Marriage of Matsyagandha (Bhishma's Oath)

The setting of the famous Bhishma Pratignya or Bhishma's oath; King Shantanu, infatuated with Satyavati, also known as Matsyagandha, asks her hand in marriage to which the fisherman, who has raised her, puts forth a major condition: Matsyagandha's sons would be the heirs to the throne. Unwilling to accept it, Shantanu returns home disappointed but that is when his son Devavrata shows the world his true character. Taking forward his father's proposal, Devavrata promises the fisherman that he would abdicate the throne but when the latter suggests that his progeny in the future may not be as willing, Devavrata takes a shocking vow. From that day he came to be known as Bhishma and the vow as Bhishma Pratignya as he decided to remain a lifelong bachelor, for the sake of his father's happiness.