Description in the Javanese wayang retellings: She is the daughter of the ogre Bagaspati. Once, she had a dream where she saw a young man named Narasoma (Salya in his youth) and fell in love with him. She asked her father to find him for her. Bagaspati complied with her wishes. He had to force Narasoma, since the young man was initially reluctant to accompany Bagaspati. However, upon seeing the beautiful Pujawati, Narasoma was happy to marry her but was ashamed to have an ogre as his father-in-law. Bagaspati was disappointed but took this in stride and sacrificed his own life for the sake of his daughter's happiness (in some versions Narasoma kills him). Before dying, he also instructed her daughter to change her name to Setiawati. After Salya was killed in the Baratayuda war, Pujawati committed ritual suicide with a small dagger.
Notes on the Indian retellings: In India, Satyavati corresponds to the Javanese [Durgandini]. In the Sanskrit version, Satyavati is a fisherman's daughter. She was initially known as Matsyagandha ("she who smells of fish"). Shantanu, Bhishma's father, married her as his second wife, after his former wife Ganga (a river goddess) left him for breaking one of the conditions set for the marriage. She then gave birth to Vichitraveerya.
Hardjowirogo, 1948. Sejarah Wayang Purwa. Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, pp. 236-237 H. Solichin, Suyanto, Sumari, Undung Wiyono, Sri Purwanto, 2017. Ensiklopedi Wayang Indonesia. Mitra Sarana Edukasi, Jakarta, pp. 183-185 (Vo. VII). Heru S Sudjarwo, Sumari, Undung Wiyono, 2010. Rupa dan Karakter Wayang Purwa. Kakilangit Kencana, Jakarta, pp. 938-939. Sudibyoprono, R.R., Suwandono, Dhanisworo, Mujiyono, 1991. Ensiklopedi Wayang Purwa. Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, pp. 413-414.