Foundational Mahabharata mortal-figure; mother of Vyasa (the redactor of the Mahabharata), Chitrangada, and Vichitravirya. Born to King Vasu Uparichara of Chedi by the apsara Adrika (transformed into a fish by curse) — twin parturition giving the male twin to Vasu and the female twin (Satyavati) to Dasharaja, the chief of the fisher-folk. Hence her epithet Matsyagandhā ("the Fish-Scented"). While ferrying the sage Parashara across the Yamuna, agreed to sexual union in exchange for boons. Bore Vyasa immediately; he grew to adulthood at once and departed for ascetic practice. Married Shantanu after Devavrata's bhīṣma-vow; bore Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. After both sons died without heirs, summoned Vyasa to perform niyoga on Vichitravirya's widows Ambika and Ambalika, producing Dhritarashtra (blind because Ambika closed her eyes at Vyasa's terrifying ascetic appearance), Pandu (pale because Ambalika paled), and Vidura (by a substituted maidservant). The niyoga-substitution mechanism is the structural origin of the Pandava-Kaurava generation. Retired to the forest with her daughters-in-law before the Kurukshetra war; died as an ascetic. The Mahabharata's entire compositional framing (Vyasa narrating to Vaishampayana to Janamejaya at the snake-sacrifice) traces back to Satyavati through her premarital union with Parashara.