The Mother Ganges was wife of Santanu Mahārāja, and Bhīṣmadeva was the only remaining son. The contract was between Santanu Mahārāja and Ganges, Mother Ganges that, "I can marry you if you allow me that all the children born I shall throw in the water of the Ganges. And if you do not allow me, then immediately I shall leave your company." So Santanu Mahārāja said: "All right, still I shall marry you." So she was throwing all the children in the Ganges. So this Bhīṣmadeva . . . so after all, father, so he became very much sorry that, "What is this? What kind of wife I have got? She is simply throwing all the children in the water." So at the time of Bhīṣmadeva, Santanu Mahārāja said: "No, I cannot allow it. I cannot allow it." Then Mother Ganges said: "Then I am going." "Yes, you can go. I don't want you. I want this son."
So he was wifeless. Again he wanted to marry the Satyavatī. So the father said: "No, I cannot give my daughter to you, because you have got a son, grown-up son. He will be king. So I cannot give my daughter to you to become your maidservant. Her . . . if I would have thought that her son would be the king, then I can offer you my daughter." So he said: "No, that is not possible." But Bhīṣmadeva understood that, "My father is attracted with this girl." So he approached, that . . . he said to the fisherman that, "You can offer your daughter to my father, but you are thinking that I shall become king. So your daughter's son will be king.
On this condition you can offer your daughter." So he replied: "No, I cannot." "Why?" "Now, you may not be king, but your son may be king." Just see, this material calculation. Then at that time he said: "No, I shall not marry. That's all. I promise. I shall not marry." So he remained brahmacārī. Therefore his name is Bhīṣma. Bhīṣma means very solid, firmly fixed. So he was a brahmacārī. For the sake, for the satisfaction of his father's senses, he remained brahmacārī.