Born on the Island

Satyavatī was the daughter of King Vasu, but she was brought up by a fisherman as his own daughter, and for a while she smelled of fish, because she lived among the fisherfolk. To serve her father she ferried people across the Yamunā in his boat. One day the great sage Parāśara, travelling to the holy places, came to cross the river in her boat, and he saw her, very beautiful, and desired her.

She said to him, Look, lord, there are seers standing on both banks. How can we come together while they watch us? So the sage made a mist, and the whole place became as dark as night. Amazed and ashamed, she said, Know that I am a maiden, lord, always obedient to my father. If I am with you, my maidenhood will be spoiled, and then how could I go home? I could not bear to stay in my house. Think about this, and then do as you will.

The sage was pleased with her and said, Do this for me, and you will still be a maiden. And choose a boon, whatever you wish; my favour has never been given in vain. She chose the finest fragrance for her body, and he gave it to her, and she came to him. From then on she was called Gandhavatī, the fragrant one, and because people on earth could smell her fragrance a yojana away, a distance of many miles, she was called Yojanagandhā. Parāśara went back to his home.

That same day Satyavatī gave birth to Parāśara's son on an island in the Yamunā. The child stood before his mother and turned his mind to austerity. When you think of me, he said, I will come to you whenever there is something to be done. Because he was left as a child on an island, a dvīpa, he was called Dvaipāyana, and because he was dark he was called Kṛṣṇa, the dark one.