Shantanu was overjoyed with the return of his son that he performed 7 Ashwamedha Yagnas on the banks of the river Yamuna. He crowned Devavrata as the prince who would become his successor.
While travelling near the banks of River Yamuna, Shantanu smelled an aromatic musk fragrance and he started to search for the root of the smell. And he came across a young lady, Satyavati, he fell in love with her and asked her father Dasharaja, the Head of the Fishermen for Satyavati’s hand for marriage.
But he refused, saying that his son Devavrata and his lineage would become the Kings of Hastinapur, while the Satyavati and her kids would be like servants to Devavrata. Saying this he put forth a condition that only if Shantanu promised that Satyavati’s children would succeed the throne, he would give his consent to Satyavati and Shantanu’s marriage.
After hearing this Shantanu was left in a dilemma, as he did not want to cheat his son Devavrata by making this promise, but he also wanted to marry Satyavati.