Vichitravirya is a character from the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the son of King Shantanu and Queen Satyavati. Vichitravirya became the king of Hastinapura after his father's death but faced challenges in producing heirs due to his untimely demise. To ensure the continuation of the royal lineage, Satyavati called upon her other son, Vyasa, to father children with Vichitravirya's widows, Ambika and Ambalika. This led to the birth of Dhritarashtra and Pandu, who played significant roles in the epic's narrative, particularly in the conflict between the Kauravas and the Pandavas.