After getting married to Ambika and Ambalika, the princesses of Kashi, Vichitravirya lived a happy life while being the King of Hastinapur, succeeding his elder brother Chitrangada.
After 7 years, Vichitravirya suffered from tuberculosis, and despite all the efforts from different physicians being done, he could not be healed and dies childless.
Since, he passed away childless, there was no successor for the throne. So, Satyavati asked Bhisma to marry the widows of Vichitravirya, but Bhisma refused reminding her of his vow of celibacy.
The birth of Veda Vyasa was kept a secret which she hid from Shantanu and Bhisma, since Bhisma refused to marry the widows, she revealed the birth of Veda Vyasa to him and suggested that with the help of Veda Vyasa, through the process of ‘Niyoga’ (The process of a widower begetting a child), children could be born to Ambika and Ambalika. Ambika and Ambalika agreed to the process of Niyoga and Satyavati summoned Veda Vyasa as he had given his word to Satyavati, that whenever she needed his help, he would be present there.