Shantanu accepts Bhishma as Son(Part 5)

The worried king Shantanu enters in the palace. People cheer the king's hail. The king Shantanu looks at the vacant throne gets more worried. Then he looks at his son's smiling face and gives a fake smile to him and walks towards Devratha. But he is his son after all. He comes to know that there's something wrong. When Shantanu reaches near Devratha-

Devratha: Are you all right, father?

Shantanu: I am all right, my son.

Devratha: But on your face....

Shantanu: Nothing, son.

Shantanu looks at the throne, holds his hand and takes him up to the throne and says City dwellers, Councillors! Today I, Shantanu, the king of Hastinapura, declare my son Devratha as a king of Hastinapur.

[Everyone cheers the king's hail.]

All the rituals of coronation start. it seems cheering for the king's hail is not going to stop today. Everyone is very happy to see him as a king. After the coronation king, Shantanu embraces the king Devratha and gives a mace to the king. But Shantanu is very happy to see his son as a king but the pain is also there in his heart somewhere.

Shantanu is relaxing in his room. Devratha comes in his room and sits near the feet of his father and says Father if a son is not seeing the shadow of grief on the face of his father it means that the son is blind. Devratha stands up and asks: What's the reason for your grief? After all, what's that sadness which your son cannot overcome. Everyone says Devratha is very powerful. But your pain defeated me, father. Everyone says Devratha knows everything but I can't find the way to happiness for my father. Then what's the meaning of this bravery and knowledge? Father, I won't eat until I find a way to your happiness.

Shantanu sobs and gets up from his bed: Son, Don't take such vow. The reason for my pain is my heart, son.

Devratha: Your son can fulfill all your desires, father. Tell me why are you sad, father.

Shantanu: I don't want to overcome this pain of mine, my son. Just want to live with this pain.

Devratha: No my father. It is not going to happen. I will find out the reason of your grief as well as the solution to overcome. after saying so Devratha walks through the door.

To know the reason Devratha goes to Satyavati. To see him Satyavati gets worried.

Devratha asks for blessings and says: I have come to ask for charity. Your giving for my father's happiness. My father loves you so much. He is in great pain by living far away from you.

Satyavati: Don't show such inequity only by looking to your father's pain, my king. I am also in pain to stay away from him.

Devratha: If this segregation is giving pain to both of you then what's the reason for this segregation?

Satyavati: If I marry to your father by killing my wish then I never will get happiness. And if I am not happy then how can I spread happiness? No one can get the shelter under a burning tree.

Devratha: What is there lacking in Hastinapur?

Satyavati: My satisfaction comes from my respect. What respect will I get there? What will I become?

Devratha: You will become the queen mother of Hastinapur.

Satyavati: The mother of the king is called queen mother, my king.

Devratha: I will treat you as my mother. And I will give you all the respects and powers.

Satyavati: You always assume virtual, not the truth. No, my king I only will get adversity to marry your father.

Devratha: How will it be unfortunate for you to get my father's love? No, it won't happen?

Satyavati: Yes it will happen, my king. And not only me, but my children will also get that adversity too. After you, your son will become king. And what will happen to my children? They will have to be satisfied to get a small place in the army.

Devratha(with tears in his eyes): Are you saying I am the reason for my father's pain? I have imagined my father's love for twenty-five years. I had been agonizing for his blessings and love. And you are saying I'm the reason for the pain of my father.

Satyavati: No, my king. You are his good fortune but he can get only one of this two happiness. He can't get both of the things (me with him here in my cottage or there with u in your palace).

Devratha in anger: No, my lady. My father will get both happiness.

After saying that Devratha walks towards the river Ganga. He takes his dagger and makes a cut in his hand. As the drop of his blood mixes with river Ganga it catches fire in the water of river Ganga.

[What Devratha is going to do for the sake of his father's happiness? How is he going to do everything right? Why did he make a cut in his hand?]

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