The king, recognizing the beauty and fragrance of his daughter—whose scent was reminiscent of fish—gave her in marriage to Dasa, saying, “Let this maiden be yours.” This girl, radiant in beauty, character, and every virtue, became known as Satyavati, a name reflecting her association with the fishermen. For some time, Satyavati, whose smile was pure and gentle, carried the scent of fish. She dutifully served her father, rowing his boat across the waters. One day, as she was ferrying passengers, the great sage Parashara, journeying on pilgrimage, beheld her upon the river. Her beauty was so striking that even perfected beings desired her. Parashara, his wisdom keen, felt a sudden longing for the maiden whose smile was divine, whose thighs were slender as plantain stems. Recognizing her origin, he addressed her: “Fair one, who is the helmsman steering this boat?” Satyavati replied, “O revered sage, this boat, filled with a thousand people, is steered by me, the daughter of the boatman, to please my father, who has no sons.” Parashara then said, “O beautiful Vāsavī, O auspicious one, why do you delay? Row the boat, gentle lady. The fare will be a pot half-filled with a thousand coins.” Satyavati, known as Matsyagandhā, agreed and began to row the boat. As she rowed, she noticed the sage gazing at her and spoke: “People call me Matsyagandhā, daughter of the boatman king. By divine knowledge, I perceived your form the instant I saw you. For the sake of affection, I will tell you something, O Vāsavī: Listen. The Pitṛs known as Barhiṣads, O Soma-drinker, are renowned. You are their mind-born daughter, called Acchodā, for you arose from the divine lake Acchoda. You have never seen your fathers; born from their mind, you do not know your own Pitṛs.” She continued, “You chose another as your father, forsaking your Pitṛs—namely Vasu, a son of Manu, renowned and dwelling in heaven. He was united with Adrikā, an apsaras residing in a celestial chariot. By that mental transgression, moved by desire, you acted thus. Having desired another father, through yoga’s power, you fell from heaven. As you descended, you saw three celestial chariots nearby. In them, you saw your Pitṛs, as small as particles of dust, extremely subtle, indistinct, their bodies barely perceptible, joined limb to limb.” “Falling headlong, you cried out to them in distress, ‘Father!’ They told you, ‘Do not fear,’ and so you remained in heaven. You then propitiated your fathers with humble words, but they said, ‘You have lost your sovereignty by transgression. You have lost your sovereignty by your own fault, fair-smiling one, and so you fall. The gods here perform actions with bodies. By those bodies, the gods obtain the fruits of their actions; humans, however, experience results through another body—such is the order. Among the gods, actions bear fruit immediately, but among humans, after death. Therefore, my daughter, you will fall and receive the result after death.’” “They continued, ‘You are a maiden without a father, considered the daughter of Vasu; born from the womb of a fish, you will become the daughter of a king. Adrikā, in the form of a fish, met with the river Ganga; you will bear a son for Parāśara, who will be his heir. He, a brahmarshi, will divide the single Veda into four; the son of the great physician, he will increase the fame of Śantanu. You will give birth to the eldest, the heroic Citrāngada, and the renowned Citravīrya; after bearing these noble sons, you will depart again. Because of transgressing the ancestors, you will obtain a lowly birth; you will be the daughter of this king, born from Adrikā. In the twenty-eighth Dvāpara, you will be born from the womb of a fish; thus spoken by them in ancient times, you were born as the auspicious Satyavatī. Known as Adrikā, a celestial nymph by Brahma’s curse, you took the form of a fish, and after giving birth, you returned to heaven. From her you were born, that maiden, by the king’s seed; therefore, O blessed one, Vasu asked you for a son to continue his lineage.’” Vasu had spoken, “O fortunate one, grant me union.” Overwhelmed with astonishment, recalling her past birth, Satyavati said, “Behold, O lord, the sages standing on the far shore. How can there be union between us, seen by these?” Thus addressed, Parashara created a mist, enveloping the entire region in darkness. Seeing this wondrous mist, Satyavati was astonished and bashful, devoted to austerity. She spoke, “Because of union with you, O sinless one, my maidenhood will be lost. If my virginity is defiled, how will I return home, best of twice-born? Wise one, I wish to go home, I cannot remain; considering this, O lord, arrange what should follow.” To her, the best of men replied with affection, “Having done my wish, you shall remain a maiden. Choose a boon, O timid one, whatever you desire, O beautiful one; for my favor has never before been fruitless, O pure-smiling lady.