Satyavati was the wife of King Shantanu and the Queen of Hastinapura. She was the great matriarch of a great dynasty. The death of Queen Satyavati is mentioned in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata.
She wanted her children to be the rulers of Hastinapura. So she got Bhishma to relinquish his rightful claim to the throne of Hastinapura. She also made him promise that he will be a celibate.
However, she gave birth to two sons who could not take over the kingdom. Chitrangada died in a duel and Vichitravirya was a weakling. He even could not find a wife. Bhishma had to abduct the three princesses of Kashi – Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika – for him to get married. However, he died before fathering her children.
With no heir, the kingdom of Hastinapur was on the verge of disintegrating. Bhishma was not ready to break his vow of celibacy.
She then took the help of her firstborn son, Sage Vyasa, who fathered Dhritarashtra in Ambika and Pandu in Ambalika.
Again, her ambition of having a powerful descendant was foiled as Dhritarashtra was born blind and Pandu had numerous health problems.
She lived to see the sons of Dhritarashtra and Pandu turning enemies even before they reached adulthood.
Satyavati witnessed Kauravas and Pandavas feud bitterly in public during their graduation ceremony organized by Dronacharya.
She could no longer witness the downfall of her kingdom. She retired to the forest with her daughters-in-law Ambika and Ambalika. She eventually died in the forest.
She wanted her children to be the rulers of Hastinapura. So she got Bhishma to relinquish his rightful claim to the throne of Hastinapura. She also made him promise that he will be a celibate.
However, she gave birth to two sons who could not take over the kingdom. Chitrangada died in a duel and Vichitravirya was a weakling. He even could not find a wife. Bhishma had to abduct the three princesses of Kashi – Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika – for him to get married. However, he died before fathering her children.
With no heir, the kingdom of Hastinapur was on the verge of disintegrating. Bhishma was not ready to break his vow of celibacy.
She then took the help of her firstborn son, Sage Vyasa, who fathered Dhritarashtra in Ambika and Pandu in Ambalika.
Again, her ambition of having a powerful descendant was foiled as Dhritarashtra was born blind and Pandu had numerous health problems.
She lived to see the sons of Dhritarashtra and Pandu turning enemies even before they reached adulthood.
Satyavati witnessed Kauravas and Pandavas feud bitterly in public during their graduation ceremony organized by Dronacharya.
She could no longer witness the downfall of her kingdom. She retired to the forest with her daughters-in-law Ambika and Ambalika. She eventually died in the forest.