Satyavati

Satyavati, also known as Matsyagandha, is a legendary figure in Hindu mythology and a central matriarch in the Mahabharata. Described as the daughter of a fisherman, her epithet Matsyagandha refers to the scent of fish attributed to her. Some versions name her father as a king of the Matsya kingdom; others emphasize her origin among fishermen. She is the mother of Vyasa, born of her union with the sage Parashara, and thus the grandmother of the line that produces the Kuru dynasty.

Satyavati later becomes the wife of King Shantanu, ruler of Hastinapura, and bears him two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Her desire for a stable succession leads to political maneuvering within the royal house and to Bhishma’s famous vow of celibacy to ensure the throne would pass through her line.

After the deaths of Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, Vyasa is called upon to provide heirs. Through niyoga with the widows Ambika and Ambalika, Vyasa fathers Dhritarashtra and Pandu; Vidura is also described in some traditions as Vyasa’s son, and thus a half-brother to the princes. This sequence sustains the Kuru dynasty and anchors much of the Mahabharata’s later narrative, including the upbringing of the Pandavas and Kauravas.

Satyavati’s role thus spans royal diplomacy, dynastic continuity, and the transmission of lineage within Hastinapura. Her figure remains a focal point in retellings and scholarly discussions of the Mahabharata.