Satyavati: Fish-Born Queen Whose Destiny Forged the Mahabharata Lineage

• Satyavati, great-grandmother of the Pandavas, had an extraordinary birth: she was found inside a fish that had swallowed a king's semen.
• Her birth involved King Uparichara Vasu's semen, an Apsara cursed as a fish, and a fisherman's discovery.
• Satyavati later conceived Vyasa with Sage Parashara, who became the compiler of the Vedas and composer of the Mahabharata.
• King Shantanu fell in love with Satyavati, leading to Bhishma's vow of celibacy so she could marry the king.
• Through Niyoga, Satyavati's son Vyasa fathered Dhritarashtra and Pandu, continuing the Kuru lineage that led to the Pandavas and Kauravas.

Why It Matters: Her unique birth and pivotal role directly led to the Mahabharata's central conflict.