Pandavas in Varnavrata

When Duryodhana heard that the Pandavas would be going to Varnavrata, he called Purochana, trusted aide of his. Purochana was a Yavana man and Duryodhana trusted him very much. Duryodhana told Purochana that whatever would be discussed there, should not be let out to anyone at all.
He said before the Pandavas left for Varnavrata, Purochana was to leave for Varnavrata before the Pandavas. He was build a house there which was to be built with highly combustible material. It was to be camoflaged such that no could make it out.
Anyone who came in and went out of the house were to be closely monitored. Moats were to be dug around the house. The moats were to be deep and also wide such that one could not cross it by jumping across. When the time was right, the house was to be set on fire.
Purochana left to accomplish his task.

In Hastinapur, Pandavas started taking leave of the elders as they would be away for sometime in Varnavrata.
The people in Hastinapur started bad mouthing Dhritarashtra. They some how suspected that the Kauravas were upto no good. They rushed to see the Pandavas leave for Varnavrata, not sure when they would see them next. Many wanted to go with them.

When the Pandavas were leaving, Vidura spoke to Yudhistira in a language only the two knew, the language of the mlechhas. He asked them to be careful and beware of fire.

Seeing the Pandavas, Purochana came to welcome them and invited them to stay in the palace that had been constructed for them. The Pandavas entered the house were happy to see it. Yudhistira asked Bhima to silently inspect the house as he felt there was something wrong with the house. 

Yudhistira hears about Varnavrata

With Yudhistira made the crown prince, people of Hastinapur were very happy. He was kind and just. They wanted him to be the future king. Bhishma could not be king because of his promise; Dhritarashtra because of his sight.
Duryodhana could not stand this. He went to his father and wanted a way out. He told him people did not respect him because of his sight. They wanted Yudhistitra as the king. If Yudhistira became king, then his son and their sons would be kings and no one would listen to Duryodhana and his brothers.

The king called  Dushshasan , Karna and Shakuni and asked them what to do. They said send Pandavas away in some ruse.

Dhritarashtra wanted to know what would be the reason for Pandavas to go away.  Duryodhana said there was a wonderful land called Varnavrata. The Pandavas could be asked to visit that place.  They could stay there for sometime while Duryodhana ruled. Once the visit was over, Pandavas could come back and take over the kingdom.

Dhritarashtra said think of a way in which the Pandavas would themselves want to go to Varnavrata and not asked to go there. If they were forced to go, Bhishma and others would go against him.

Duryodhana said he will think of a way to accomplish this. He first went to the ministers, and by gifting them rich gifts, he gradually bought them over to his side. He coached them to talk about Varnavrata as a paradise on earth, and the ministers started doing that.

Afew days later, was the day of Shivaratri. A grand celebration was held as Varnavrata to enhance its popularity.

Hearing about the festival and also hearing about the greatness of the place, Yudhistira decided to visit Varnavrata.

When Dhritarashtra heard this he was very happy. His plan was succeeding. He told Yudhistra to go with his brothers and mother and visit the place.

The fox and the doe

Dhritrarashtra wanted a crown prince appointed. Yudhistira was the eldest and also beloved of the people. He decided to go with the people. Bhima and Arjuna went around canvassing for their brother. They had fights with kings who refused to accept Yudhistira and defeated them. Nakula and Sahadeva acted as advisers.
All was going well when one day Dhritrarashtra thought that his sons were getting neglected and no one was bothering about them. This got him thinking. He gave up food and sleep, thinking of all the time. His advisers asked him to be silent and wait for the right opportunity. The advisers told him a story. In a forest where the animals rules, a fat doe entered. A fox said he would catch his animal and have a feast. He told a mouse to observe where the doe slept and to build a tunnel silently which would open up near the animal. Once the tunnel was built, the mouse was to come out of it near the doe and bite it on its feet. Once the doe was wounded, it would not be able to run and the lion would easily catch up with it.
It happened as was plotted and the lion caught the doe. The fox now started thinking how to get its share. He went to the lion and told him it was a very auspicious day and he should not be eating without having a bath. He said he would sit guard.
The lion and other animals went to have a bath. When they came back, they saw the fox sitting with a sad face.
The fox said he was saddened by what the mouse had said. The mouse had said as it had had wounded the animal first, it had the right to eat the flesh and not the lion. The lion went away angry. When the lion left, the tiger came. The fox told the tiger that the lion had gone to look for him, to kill him and eat him. The tiger hearing this went away grumbling. He told the mouse that a mongoose had also come to have a share and when the fox had told him that the mouse deserved the first bite, the mongoose had gone to look for the mouse. The mouse hearing this fled.
When the mongoose actually came, the fox challenged him to a duel. Because of his strength and size, the fox easily won and he easily feasted on the animal.

Ending their story, the advisers told the king that he needed to act cunningly. He told the king to act as if he was a friend and well wisher of his enemies, but internally scheme.

Arjuna captures Drupada

One Drona called all his disciples and said he had taught them all he knew. It was time now to pay him his fee, the Guru Dakshina. He said he did not need wealth or land. He wanted Drupada, the king of Panchala, to be brought before him alive and bound.

Arjuna said he would bring Drupada to Drona. Climbing onto his chariot, he sped towards Panchala.

Drupada was not sure why Arjuna had come. As he had heard of an army accompanying Arjuna, he also asked his army to get ready.

He sent messengers to welcome Arjuna, but the prince declined that and said he wanted a war. He told the messengers to tell their king not to sit but come for war.

The king came and started firing weapons which were easily combated by Arjuna. Arjuna cut off Drupada's bow and the king starting fleeing. Arjuna caught the king, bound his hands and taking him on his chariot, he took him to Drona. Duryodhana saw this, and he grabbed Drupada, made him get off the chariot and flung him at Drupada's feet.

Drona said his revenge was complete. He asked for right to half of Drupada's kingdom and released him. Drupada went back to his kingdom, humiliated. He decided to find a way to end Drona and Duryodhana. He had nothing against Arjuna, who had fairly treated him.

He decided to hold a sacrifice for the same.

Karna enters

When Arjuna was showing his skills, Karna walked into the arena. His body was shining like gold. He was very handsome, with lotus like eyes and golden earrings on his ears. On his back he had two quivers and in his left hand he held a bow. On his chest he was wearing an armor which was impenetrable.

Karna said what Arjuna was showing was child's play and he could do better. Addressing Arjuna, he said he could do better than him.

Duryodhana was happy to hear this. Drona asked Karna what he knew. Duryodhana came and embraced Karna. He promised Karna friendship till the end, to which Karna said all Duryodhana's wishes would be like a command to him. He said in addition, he had one wish. He wanted to enter into a combat with Arjuna.

Arjuna said this was an uninvited guest who was talking too much. Karna said there was no point wasting words and the weapons should prove who was superior.

Drona agreed to the combat. Karna and Arjuna got ready. The audience became divided, some supporting Arjuna some supporting Karna.

Seeing Karna, glowing in the sunlight, Kunti recognized him as her son. Realizing that two of her sons would be getting into a combat, she fainted.

Kripa came there and addressing all said Arjuna is the son of Kunti. He asked Karna to introduce himself and say to which clan he belonged.

Karna bent his head. His eyes became wet. Duryodhana said if only some royal could have a combat, then Karna would be made royal. He sent for his messengers and priests and crowned Karna the king of Anga. He presented a crown to him and held an umbrella over his head.

Karna said to Duryodhana, You have given me Anga. Tell me what I can do for you? Duryodhana said he had no other wish but to be friends with Karna.

Suddenly, the charioteer Adhiratha entered the arena. Karna bowed down to him. Seeing this and guessing Karna to be Adhiratha's son, Bhima said a son of a charioteer had now come for a combat. He asked him throw away the bow and hold the reins of a chariot.

Duryodhana could sense Karna was uncomfortable. He came and stopped Bhima. He said one should not judge one by one's birth. Vishwamitra was a Khastritya who became a brahman. Drona was born in a pot. He asked Bhima to take one look at Karna and see him glowing like the sun. A tiger would never be born off a doe

While Duryodhana was talking, the sun slowly set. All invited guests left. Karna and the sons of Dhritarashtra left the arena together. The Pandavas went to their houses.

Kunti was happy. Her son was safe and was now the king of Anga.  

Exhibition

When the princes had mastered their weapons, Drona sought a meeting with the Kuru elders. He went to the place where Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Kripa and Vidur were sitting. He said the princes were now skilled and it was time for them to display their skills.

Happy Dhritarashtra asked Vidur to arrange a place, after consulting with Drona,  where the exhibition would take place.

Vidur arranged for a large place with buildings built on its sides. The buildings were for the spectators to sit and watch.

The people started arriving. First Dhritarashtra followed by Bhishma, Vidura, Kripa and many other kings who had come to watch the exhibition.

Then came the women, Gandhari, her daughter and Kunti followed by the other women.

Musical instruments were played, announcing the arrival of the royal family in the area.

When the noise settled down, Drona made an appearance in the arena, dressed in a white dress, white flowers adorning his body. Along with son, he bowed down to all present.

He asked the Pandavas to come. First came Yudhistira with his bow in his hand. He twanged his bow, which made a great noise.
They were followed by Bhima and Duryodhana. They came with their maces in their hands, bodies caked with mud from the gymnasium where they were practicing. They both let out a loud roar. People started whispering amongst themselves - who was stronger among the two.

Arjuna then came with his bow in his hand. People were stunned to see how handsome he looked. They all started talking and whispering. Dhritarashtra wanted to know what people were saying. Vidura said Arjuna had come and they were praising him. Hearing this, the king felt happy. He said to Kunti that she was blessed to have a son like Arjuna.

Arjuna invoked the fire weapon which sent a bolt of fire up in the sky. All were amazed to see this. He then invoked the Varuna weapon and torrential rain started falling. With the Vayu weapon, he blw off the rain.

With Parvat weapon he created a mountain and with the thunder weapon he demolished the mountain.

Wooden bird

One day Drona had a bird made from wood and had that placed on the top of a tree. He called his disciples one by one, First came Yudhistira. He asked him to aim and cut off the head of the bird when he gave the signal. He asked the prince to take aim at the bird and then asked what did he see. The prince said he saw the bird on the tree, on the ground he saw Drona and the princes.
Duryodhana, Bhima and the other princes came one by one and all said what Yudhistira had said.
Drone asked all of them to go back.
In the end Drona called Arjuna.He asked Arjuna to take aim and then asked what he saw. Arjuan said he saw only the bird. What part of the bird? Arjuna said he saw only the head with eyes.

Drona asked Arjuna to shoot. The head of the bird was cut. Drona embraced Arjuna.

One day the princes and Drona had gone to the river to bathe. A crocodile caught Drona's leg in its mouth and started pulling him. While the other princes were not sure what to do, Arjuna shot five arrows together and cut off the crocodile into pieces.

Drona came up and pleased with Arjuna gave him a weapon called Brahmashira. He asked Arjuna to use this only on celestial beings and never on humans.

Seeing Arjuna being praised, Duryodhana was angry.

Drone kept on teaching the princes. Yudhistira became an expert in handling the chariots. Duyodhana and Bhima were experts in handling the mace. Nakula mastered the art of handling horses and Sahadeva mastered the use of the sword.

Arjuna mastered all weapons.

Ekalavya

After Drona came to live with Kripa, Bhishma one day called Drona and asked him to be the tutor for the princes. He was to teach the princes the art of weaponry.
Drona called the princes and said he would teach them how to use weapons. In return he wanted something. Whiel all princes were quiet, Arjuna said he would fulfil Drona's wishes. Hearing this Drona was pleased.

Drona got busy teaching the princes. Teaching the princes, he was not getting time to teach his son. He would send the princes to fetch water from a far away river on foot. When the princes were busy with this, Drona would use this time to teach his son.

Only Arjuna knew this. Invoking the Varuna astra, Arjuna would fill his vessel instantly and give it to his Guru. Thus Ashwatthama and Arjuna learnt from Drona when the princes were not there.

Arjuna set his mind to learn all he could. He would learn in the day and practice in the night. He knew no rest or sleep.

One day the son of the chief of hunters, Hiranyadhanu, came to Drona. The biy was called Ekalavya. He wanted to learn from Drona  Drona said he would not teach one from a lower caste. Hearing this, Ekalavya left. He started living in the forest. He erected a statue of Drona and started worshipping that.

He would hear what Drona taught and with his practice, he soon became a skilled warrior.

One the kuru princes happened to be in the forest for a hunt. A dog was accompanying the princes. The dog happened to come to the spot where Ekalavya was, at that moment, worshipping the statue of Drona. The dog started barking. Disturbed, he shot seven arrows. The arrows did not hurt the dog. It just stopped the dog from barking.

The dog went back to the princes. The princes wanted to know how this happened. The attendants said in the forest, there was someone who knew how to use weapons. It was his work.

The princes went to him and asked him who he was and who had taught his the use of weapons. The person said he was Ekalavya, disciple of Drona. The princes stunned to hear this, went back home.

Arjuna went to Drona and asked the Guru why he had taught various forms of archery to Ekalavya and ignored him.

Drona was surprised. He asked Arjuna to take him to the spot where Ekalavya was.

Seeing Drona coming, Ekalavya got up and bowed down before him.

Drona said as a Guru he had come to demand his fee - Guru Dakshina. Ekalavya said he would give anything that was asked for. Drona asked for the thumb of his right hand.

Without any hesitation, Ekalavya cut off his thumb and gave it to Drona.

Drona

Janamajeya wanted to know who Drona was. The sage said:

One day the sage Bharadwaj was bathing in the river, when he saw the apsara Gritachi. Seeing her, he was filled with desire, and his semen came out. Seeing a basket (Droni) close by, he kept his semen in that. The semen transformed itself into a boy, who because he was born in a basket, was named Drona.

When he was old enough, he was taught the arts of weapory by his father. Prishat was the king of Panchala. His son, Drupada was also a student of Bharadwaj and was a friend of Drona.

When Prishat passed away, Drupada went back to Panchala to take over the kingdom.

Soon after Drona, went to the forests to meditate. After finishing her meditation, he came and got married to Kripa's sister, Kripi. They soon had a son, who started neighing like a horse as soon as he was born. He was blessed to have a long life and was called Ashwathama. He taught his son all he know.

One he heard that Parashurama was giving away all his wealth. Being a poor brahman, Drona went to see if could get something. Parashurama said he given away all. All that he was left with, was his life and his bow and arrows. Drona could choose one.

Drona chose the weapons and Parashurama taught him how to use those and the mantras to invoke the weapons.

Drona remembered his friend Drupada and decided to go and ask for help. He went to Drupada, having walked all the way. He was tired and covered with dust.

He introduced himself to the king, The king refused to recognize him and insulted him.

In anger, Drona left that place. He went to his brother in law, Kripa. Kripa was happy to see his sister and nephew.

Drona began living in Hastinapur.

One day the Kuru princes were playing with an iron ball, when that ball fell into a dry well. The princes kept trying but they could not bring the ball out. They saw Drona there and asked if he could help them.

Drona said he was hungry and tired and if the princes promised to help him, he would help them. The princes agreed.

Drone took a blade of grass and threw that at the ball, which got stuck to the ball. Then he threw another blade, which stuck to the first blade. He kept throwing grass blades in this manner till a chain was formed to pull the ball out.

The princes were amazed and wanted to know who he was.

Drona asked them to inform Bhishma about the meeting. Bhishma knew immediately who this was. He brought them to his palace and appointed him as the teacher for the princes.

Kripa

Bhishma seeing the princes growing up, he chose Kripacharya as the person who would be able to teach the princes the art of using weapons.

Janmajeya wanted to know why a brahman like Kripacharya was adept at using weapons.

The sage continuing said :

The sage Gautama had a son called Sharadwan who born with Shara (arrow) in his hand.

When he went to the forests to meditate, such was the force that Indra tried looking for ways to stop his meditation. Indra sent a beautiful apsara to tempt the sage. The sage was distracted and the sight of such a beautiful woman made him lose control. As he was a great saint, he still managed to resist the temptation and controlled his desires. But his concentration was lost, and he dropped his bow and arrows. His semen fell on some weeds by the wayside, dividing the weeds into two - from which a boy and a girl were born. The sage left the forest for another place.

The king Shantanu happened to be in the forest and he saw the children there. He brought them over and took care of them. When the children were old enough, Sharadhwan appeared there one day. He blessed Shantanu for taking care of his children with love and named the boy Kripa and the girl Kripi. He taught his son the art of weaponry. Soon Kripa was an expert and kings and princes from far started coming to him to learn. At a very early age, he became known as Acharya.

Bhishma seeing Kripa diving his time between other external students and the Kuru princes, started thinking of getting a new teacher. He thought of Dronacharya and asked him to teach the princes.

Bhima returns home

Back in the land, When the princes were ready to go back home, Yudhishtira was surprised not see Bhima amongst them. They started looking around for Bhima.

He went told his mother that he could not  find Bhima. Along with his mother, he then informed Vidura about this.

Kunti was crying away, and Vidura consoled her saying Bhima was destined to be great and no harm would have come to him.

Kunti and the four brother get looking around frantically for Bhima.

In the Nagaloka, Bhima kept sleeping and slept for eight days and nights. The nagas told Bhima to go back home as his mother and brothers were searching for him.

Bhima bid goodbye to the Nagas and went straight home. He bowed down to his mother and Yudhistira and hugged the other three brothers.

He then told them all what had happened. Yudhistira then told Bhima to keep this to himself and not let anyone else know that they knew that Bhima had been poisoned  by Duryodhana. 

Bhima in Nagloka

Bhima in the river, went where the current took him. Slowly going into the water, he went down and reached the land of the Nagas, under the water.

Angry at seeing this strange object floating into their kingdom, these snakes began biting Bhima. The poison in the snakes acted as an anecdote and neutralized the poison in Bhima's body.

Awake, Bhima broke the ropes that tied him. Then seeing the snakes around them, he started grabbing them and hurling them around. Scared, the snaked fled. They went to Vasuka, their king, and told him all that had happened.

Vasuki wanted to see this person so went to see Bhima accompanied by his snakes. He recognized Bhima as a descendant of his and in sweet tones and words calmed Bhima. He gifted him many jewels and weapons. He then told the snakes never to harm Bhima.

He then took Bhima to his house where he gave him food and drink. There were pots of some drink there. Bhima after his food dranks from a few of the drinks. Each pot contained a drink that would give the one who consumed it, the strength of a thousand elephants. Having drunk from eight of those pots, Bhima gained the strength of eight thousand elephants.

After that Bhima went to sleep.

Bhima poisoned

The sage continuing telling Janmajeya said:

Kunti lived in Hastinapur with her sons. Her sons and sons of Gandhari started growing together. The one hundred and five boys went to learn the Vedas together. They played games together and in those games the Pandavas would usually emerge victorious.

Off all the boys, Bhima was the strongest. His voice was like a roar of an animal and when he jumped, it felt as if the earth was crashing. He would sometimes drown his brothers in play.

He would grab big trees which would get uprooted by his grasp.

Duryodhan used to be worried. A child with this strength, what will be become once he grows. He thought of killing off Bhima. If Bhima was away , then he could overpower the other brothers, capture them and get the kingdom for himself.

He asked his brothers to erect a place on the banks of Ganga which would be wonderful to look at. A wonderful hut was to be built there and in that hut all sorts of food items were to be kept.

When the hut was built, Duryodhan one day invited all brothers to go play on the banks of Ganga. Yudhishtira agreed and the Pandavas also went along. On their chariots they travelled till they reached the banks of the river.

They were tired and all sat down to eat. Duryodhan slyly added the Kalkuta poison in Bhima's meal. This was snake venom and was slow acting. After food, the princes went to play in the river.

Coming back, they dressed themselves in the best of the clothes and went to sleep on the golden cots kept for them. All were tired and were soon asleep. All except Duryodhan. And Bhima was unconscious, with the effects of the poison.

Seeing Bhima having lost his consciousness, Durodhan quickly tied Bhima's hands and had him flung in the river.

Satyavati's death

One day Vyasa came to Hastinapur and finding his mother alone, spoke to her. He said bad times were going to fall on the dynasty. Dhritarashtra will turn evil and things would not work well.

He asked her to leave the palace and leave for the forests.

Satyavati was worried. She called Ambika and Ambalika and told them what Vyasa had said.

They decided to go with Satyavati. They called Bhishma and told him about their wish.

Soon after, they left with the aged women of Hastinapur accompanying them.

Soon meditating in the forests, they gave up their life.

Death of Pandu

Pandu was living happily with his sons and wives. One day, spring came. The trees around looked wonderful, full of flowers.
Pandu wanted to explore the forest and leaving Kunti and the children, he went inside with Madri.
The king was aroused seeing Madri. Forgetting his curse, he grasped Madri. He tore off her clothes and was about to have sex when he collapsed dead on top of her. The sage's curse was fulfilled. Madri started wailing.

Kunti seeing Pandu not returning, she taking the children along with her went to look for him. She followed the source of Madri's cries and some reached the place where Madri was crying, with dead Pandu on her lap.

Kunti sank on the ground. She told Madri she should have avoided the king, knowing about the curse of the sage.

Madri said she had tried to stop the king but he would not listen.

Kunti asked Madri to look after the children and she said she would end her life. Madri stopped her and said she would be the one who would go with the king. She requested Kunti bring up her two sons along with three of her sons. Saying so, Madri gave up her life.

The sages living nearby came there. With four sages lifting Pandu and Madri, they lit the funeral pyre.

Kunti then accompanied by the sages left for Hastinapur. Bhishma, Vidura, Gandhari, Satyavati, Ambika and Ambalika were there. They greeted the sages and gave them seats.

The sages then told them about Pandu, his sons and his death.

All broke down. Dhritarashtra asked Vidura to arrange for funeral ceremonies for Pandu and Madri. The five sons of Pandu offered meals (Pinda) to Pandu and Madri. Gold and wealth was distributed amongst the poor.

Pandu's sons named

One day, seeing Pandu alone, Madri said that were three queens in Hastinapur. In the city, Gandhari had hundred sons, Kunti had three sons and she was the unfortunate one who was not able to have any child. She asked him to ask Kunti to teach her the mantra so she could also have children.

Pandu said he would speak with Kunti.

Seeing Kunti alone, he requested her to teach Madri the mantra.

Kunti said she would give the mantra to Madri, but Madri would be able to use only once.

When Madri heard she would be able to use the mantra only once, she decided to invoke the twin Gods, Ashwini Kumar.

With the grace of the Gods, twin sons were born to Madri.

After the birth of the five sons, the sages living nearby came and named the children.

The eldest son was named Yudhistira.
The strong son was named Bhima.
The third son was named Arjuna.

Madri's sons were named Nakula and Sahadeva, Nakula being the elder one.

One day Pandu came to Kunti and said that Dhritarashtra had a hundred sons and he wished that Kunti give the mantra to Madri once more to have more sons.

Kunti said she would be unable to abide the request and Pandu respecting that, gave up the thought of having more children.

Sons of Pandu

The sage continuing to tell Janmajeya said :

Kunti circumambulated her husband and invoked Dharma. Around the time when Gandhari was pregnant, Kunti and Dharma had a beautiful son. A voice from the heavens said this boy would be righteous and honest. He would be known among all for his truthfulness.

After some time, Pandu said He had truth and was desirous of strength. Kunti thought of Pavana, the mighty God who had the strength to blow the world away.She invoked Pavana and a son was born. Such was the child's strength, that when she tried to lift her son, she was not able to, because of his weight. Such was the weight, that the mountains shook when the child moved. The cry of the child scared the inhabitants of the place. A voice from the heaven said This child would be the strongest on the earth. Impenetrable by weapons his would be like stone. He would enemies of all evil.

Pandu then said after sometime that he wished for a son who would be having the qualities of truth and strength combined. Kunti asked who was such a God who had such qualities. Pandu and Kunti then asked the rishis who lived nearby, who was such a God.

The rishis said Indra was such a God who had the qualities of all Gods. Pandu then started worshipping Indra. Pleased with his devotion, Indra appeared before him. Pandu expressed his wish and Indra said a son would be born from his favour.

Pundu went to Kunti and asked her to invoke Indra. A son was born off Indra to Kunti. A voice from the heaven said This child will be known in all three worlds for his strength. He will learn from the greatest of the teachers and will help place his eldest brother on the throne.He will burn the Khandava forest and build a big city.

All Gods came to see the three sons of Pandu.

Pandu said my desire for having sons was not fulfilled and he wanted to more. He also told Kunti that as per the law if she went and begot more sons through someone else, she would be considered a prostitute. 

Pandu requests Kunti to have children

Pandu called Kunti and said as he would not be able to give her any children, so he asked her to beget sons through brahmans as it was deemed fit as per scriptures. If a wife, with the permission of her husband, co lived with another person and had child, the child would be considered her husband's child.
Kunti said she did not want to hear words like this as could not being with anyone other than her husband. She started telling Pandu about Vyusitashwa. He was a great king who had a beautiful wife called Bhadra. The king did many sacrifices but he did not have any children. One day, affected by tuberculosis, he passed away.
Bhadra was grief stricken and was thinking of ending her life when the dead body of her husband got up and said he would give her children. She had seven sons.
Ending her story Kunti said, Bhadra's husband had found a way for her, so if Pandu wanted children then he would have to think of a way to achieve this.
Pandu said it was not possible for him to give her children. The dead king had the power which he did not have.
Pandu started telling about olden times. In the forest lived the learned sage, Uddalaka with his son Shvetketu. One day when Shvetketu was young, a sage came to their hut and aroused by seeing Uddalaka's wife wanted to live with her. He carried her away forcibly.
Shvetketu asked his father who was this sage who was carrying off his mother. Uddalaka said his mother was not bound by rules and she had the right to go with whoever she chose.
Angry Shvetketu said he would meditate and then make a rule that would create social bonds. If someone forcibly broke the bond, they would be sinners. Women who would not listen to their husband would be considered sinners.
Saying this Pandu said, Listen Kunti while I tell you about Soudasa.
There was a king called Soudasa in the solar dynasty who had a beautiful wife called Madyanti. He let his wife live the hermitage of sage Vashistha where his wife gave birth to many sons.

Pandu said it was perfectly fine for Kunti to have children through someone else.

Kunti then told Pandu about her life before her marriage. She told him about Durvasa and the mantra he had given her. She then asked Pandu which God should she invoke, to get a child,
Pandu said for years one would perform sacrifices but would not get a glimpse of the Gods but a mantra from Kunti would get the God to come and live there. Dharma or Yama was the greatest of the Gods, one who never deviate the path. This was the God that would have to be invoked.

Pandu's journey towards heaven

Pandu went to a forest called Chaitraratha with his wives. Seeing Gandharvas there, they went to the Naimisha forest. From there they went to the Himalayas. From they went to Mount Gandhamadan where there was a lake called Indradyumna. They bathed in the lake and liking the environment, they lived there. The place was full of many hermits meditating in the vicinity and this was pleasing to Pandu.
The three lived there, devoting their life to meditation.Such was their meditation that they soon could visit the heavens. Taking leave of the hermits, they started their journey heavenwards, by climbing the highest mountains. They saw the various Gods on their way. They were stopped on the way by some rishis who wanted to know who the three were and where they wanted to go.
Introducing himself, Pandu said they were going heavenwards as they had no will to live. Due to his own fault, Pandu would not be able to have any children and thus there would no one to do his last rites. This was the reason, he had planned to give up earth and go to heaven with his wives.
The rishis told Pandu that was intelligent and knew that one who did not have children would not be able to go heavenwards. Even if did give away gifts and did a lot of social service, he would be stopped by the guards at the doors of the heaven.
Pandu wanted to know what he should do.
The rishis told Pandu to be patient and live in that spot. They also said they were able to look into the future and they said Pandu would have noble sons who would be great souls.
Finding a mountain with many peaks nearby as a suitable place, Pandu and his wives started living there.

Pandu is cursed

As Dhritarashtra was ruling, Pandu along with his wives and followers was roaming in the forests. Hunting was a favorite past time and Pandu would roam around hunting deer. One Pandu found a deer and shot an arrow, targeting the animal. This deer actually happened to be Kindam, son of a sage who was having intercourse with a doe then.
Shot by Pandu, Kindam collapsed on top of the doe. Kindam asked Pandu how he could do such a thing. Pandu said it was right as per the law to shoot deer.
Kindam said while it was fine to shoot a deer, it was not correct to shoot and kill an animal which was mating. Saying he cursed Pandu, that is Pandu tried to have sex with anyone going forward, he would die.

Pandu was grieved. He performed the last rites of the dead sage and then decided to stay back in the forest forever and not go back to rule. He asked his wives to return back while he decided to live in the forest and give up his life.

The queens devastated started crying. They told Pandu they were fine with his forsaking them, only on the condition that he lets them die first.

Moved Pandu said that forest life would not be simple and if they were ready to face the hardships they could accompany him. When they agreed he asked them to leave all their fine clothes and jewels and dress like hermit women and come with him.

Talking to his followers, Pandu asked them to return back to Hastinapur with the news that Pandu and his queens would not return.

Dhritarashtra and Vidura could not control their grief when they heard this.

Birth of the Kauravas

The sage continuing telling Janmajeya said :

Once Vyasa was pleased with the devotion of Gandhari , blessed her to have hundred sons as strong as her husband.
Gandhari became pregnant and even after ten months had passed, she was still pregnant. She then heard that Kunti had given birth to a son.
Gandhari was unhappy. The eldest in the race would have right to the throne. Even though she was pregnant before Kunti, Kunti had given birth had given birth first.
A year passed and she was still pregnant. Not sure what to do, she struck her stomach with an iron mace, in disgust, thinking of terminating her pregnancy.

The pregnancy terminated, Gandhari gave birth to a lump of flesh. Hearing this, Vyasa came there. He told Gandhari that jealousy and anger were not virtues of a noble woman and she should not have done what she did.

Gandhari asked the sage to help her. The sage asked her to get hundred pots, fill the pots with clarified butter, and carefully divide the flesh into portions and put a portion in each pot. He then told her to water the pots regularly. He asked her not to disturb the pots, and saying this he left.

The day Bhima was born in the forest, the same day Duryodhana was born from the first pot. The moment he was born, Duryodhana started braying like a donkey. Hearing this, the donkeys in the neighborhood started calling out. In response, the dogs and foxes started howling.

Dhritarashtra went to Bhishma and Vidura and said he was sad as Pandu's son was the eldest and would claim right to the throne. With the birth of his son, there were ill omens everywhere.

Vidura said this is not a good sign. He asked the king to abandon the child. Blinded by the love for his first born, Dhritarashtra refused to agree. Soon the other ninety nine sons were born.

Janmajeya said : I know Duryodhana had a sister. After the hundred sons when did Gandhari have a daughter?

The sage said : When Vyasa was dividing the flesh into parts, Gandhari was wishing for a daughter to be born. It so happened, that after diving into hundred parts, a small part was left. Vyasa then told Gandhari that this part would be the daughter that she was wishing for.

There was a maid with whom Dhritarashtra had slept once. From this maid was born a son called Yuyutsu.

Later the hunderd and one sons  got married to able princesses and the daughter, Dushala, got married to Jayadhrata. 

Marriage of the Kuru Princes and birth of Karna

When the three boys grew up they were sent for their education. Along with the scriptures they learnt the art of warfare. When they were of age, it was time to get them married.
In the clan of Yadavas there was a king called Subala who had a daughter called Gandhari. She had a boon that she would give birth to hundred sons of great strength.
Bhishma sent a proposal to Subala for the marriage of Gandhari with Dhritarashtra.
The king thought over the proposal. The only hitch was that Dhritarshatra was blind. Apart from that, the Kurus were a strong clan.
Agreeing to the proposal, Subala agreed to give Gandhari to Dhritarashtra. Along with Gandhari, many maids and a lot of wealth was sent. Gandhari's brother, Shakuni also came along with his sister.
When Gandhari heard that her husband was blind, she decided to follow her husband, Taking a clean white cloth, she tied it over her eyes thereby she also became blind.
Handing over his sister to Dhritarashtra, Shakuni returned back to his kingdom.

After the wedding of the elder prince, Bhishma started thinking of a bride for Pandu.
Shura was a Yadava king, the grandfather of Shri Krishna. Seeing that the king Kuntibhoja, his cousin,  was childless, he gave his daughter Pritha to her, for bringing her up as his own.He named her Kunti.

One day the sage Durvasa came visiting the land where Kuntibhoja lived. Seeing Durvasa, Kunti washed his feet with her own hands and welcomed him. She looked after the sage and was there to serve him, with folded hands.
Pleased with her devotion, Durvasa gave her a mantra. He told her whenever she uttered the mantra with any God in mind, that God would appear before her. Saying this and blessing her, the sage left.

Kunti wanted to try out the mantra. She uttered the mantra thinking of Surya.
Surya appeared and Kunti bowing down, said she was just testing the mantra. She said she had called him without any reason and she begged forgiveness.

Surya said the mantra is powerful and will not go futile. Surya said Kunti needed to sleep with with him.
Kunti said she was a virgin and all would be ashamed if she performed a act like that. Surya said, with his boon, her virginity would remain intact. A son was born of Kunti and Surya and Surya left.
The child was born with an armor on his body and earrings on his ears.

Kunti was not sure what to do and what people would say to her. Taking a large copper vessel, she placed the child in that. She carefully placed the vessel in the waters of Yamuna and watched it float away.

A Suta (charioteer) was bathing in the waters of Yamuna when he saw the floating vessel. Curious to know what was inside, he got the vessel to the shore. Seeing a beautiful boy inside, he called out to his wife Radha.

The couple was childless and they adopted the boy. They named the boy Vasusena. The boy grew up learning all he could. He would always give alms away to any brahmana who came his way. All that was asked off him, he gave. Such was the case that when later Indra asked for his armor and earrings, he cut them off his body and gave it away. As he had cut off his body to give away what was asked for, he was also known as Karna. In lieu of the armor, Indra had a given to Karna a ferocious weapon called Ekagni, which would mean sure death of the one on whom this was hurled.

Going back, Kunti's swayamvar was organized. All kings came there and among then was Pandu, looking regal like Indra himself. Kunti chose Pandu as her husband. Pandu came back to his land along with Kunti.

None of the princes had any children. Bhishma thought of marriage again.

Shalya, the king of Madra had a beautiful sister called Madri. Bhishma asked for Madri's hand for his brother's son. Shalya said in their land they had a custom of receiving dowry from the groom, to which Bhishma agreed. Bhishma came back with Madri and got her married to Pandu.

Pandu wanted to expand the kingdom and he went on an expedition towards the West. Pandu defeated many kings and made them his subordinates.

Pandu was greeted by Bhisma when he arrived. Pandu gave all the wealth that he had got, to Dhritarashtra.

There was a king called Sudeva who had a beautiful daughter called Parashari, who was known for her beauty. Bhishma got this princess married to Vidura.

Vidura born

Janmajeya wanted to know why Yama needed to born on earth.
The sage said:
There was a sage called Mandavya. He was meditating below a tree, observing a vow of silence.
Some robbers happened to be in the city and they were fleeing after robbing many houses. The chief of guards was chasing them.
The guards saw the sage meditating and asked him if he had seen the robbers. The sage remained silent.
They saw the loot which the robbers had hidden there. Thinking the sage was the chief of robbers, they caught him.They caught the robbers and along with the sage tied them and presented them in teh court.

The king ordered them to be impaled on spears. The sage was silent all through out.

Some other sages saw this and trying to free Mandavya but were unable to do so. They went to the king and told him that he had wrongfully impaled a sage.

The king ashamed came to the sage and begged his forgiveness. The king tried to take the spear out but was unable to do so.

The sage forgave the king.

The sage then wanted to know why he had to undergo through such a suffering. He approached Yama, who was also the God of Justice, Dharma.

Yama said as a child you used to impale innocent insects on needles, which is why this punishment.

The sage that act did not deserve such a big punishment. As a play of an innocent child, a lighter punishment would have been more apt.

The sage cursed Yama to be born as a human.

This is why Yama was born as a human, as a son of a Shudra woman. Thus was born Vidura.

The blind prince was Dhritarashtra and the pale prince was Pandu.

Grandchildren of Satyavati

Satyavati first went to Ambika and explained the situation to her. She said Vyasa would come in the middle of night and she would have to accept his as he was. If she did that, she would be a mother a great king.
Satyvati then went on to prepare the nuptial bed, decorating it with flowers.

At the stroke of midnight Vyasa arrived. A terrible sight - dark colored person with matted locks. Ambika kept her eyes closed all through the night, even when Vyasa touched her and had intercourse with her.

At dawn, Vyasa got ready to leave when Satyavati arrived and wanted to know if all was well.
Vyasa said the son born will have the strength of many elephants. As his mother had kept her eyes closed all the time, the child will be born blind. This son will have a hundred sons.

Satyavati said a blind king of the Kurus did not sound right. She asked Vyasa to try again.

Vyasa left saying he will back after a year.

In the meanwhile, Ambika gave birth to a son who was born blind as Vyasa had said.

After a year, Vyasa came.As told by Satyavati, Ambalika went to Vyasa. As coached, she did not close her eyes, but seeing Vyasa she became pale.

Vyasa later told Satyavati that the son born would be pale in complexion.

Satyavati asked Vyasa to try again, setting for the path for Yama to be born in the Kuru family.

Vyasa agrees to help Satyavati

Vyasa was sitting amongst the Gods, when he felt his mother calling out to him. He arrived where Satyavati was. Satyavati hugged her son and started crying.
Seeing his mother cry, Vyasa asked the reason for the grief.
Satyavati said my husband passed away when my sons were young. A Gandharva killed my elder son. Bhishma brought up the younger son and got him married to two princesses. He too passed away leaving two young widows and no children. I have sent for you as I want you to help me increase my family tree. You and Bhishma are my sons. For getting me married, Bhisma took a terrible oath. As he cannot help in be-getting children, I need your help.

Vyasa said he would do as his son said.

Satyavati said your sisters-in-law are there. Please have sons from them to help this dynasty.

Vyasa said he would help. He asked Satyavati to tell her daughters-in-law to keep themselves clean and pure.For a year they would lead a life meditating and participating in giving alms to the poor and participate in sacrifices.

Satyavati refused to wait for a year.

Vyasa said he was ugly and any one of the princesses who would accept him as he was would be a mother to a great king. If not, the consequences would have to be borne.

Saying so, he left saying he would be back in the night.

Bhishma advises Satyavati

Satyavati approached Bhishma and wanted to know what was the way out. She asked him to take over Hastinapur as its king. She also asked him to get married and have sons who would carry forward the lineage.

Bhishma said I had made a promise because of you and I will not go back on that promise of mine. Even if the Gods command me to, I will not go back on my promise. Till my last breath, I will not to touch a woman passionately. Sun may loose his warmth , Moon may loose its coolness but I will not go away from my word.

Satyavati said I know what you did and I respect your word. Please let me know if there is a solution for this.

Bhishma said As a Kshatriya it is my duty to look after the Kuru throne. Let me tell you about Rama, son of Jamadagni. Using his axe, Parasurama (Rama with an axe) had killed the king called Arjuna and his lineage. The earth was devoid of Kshtriyas. The ladies of their households then lived with the brahmanas and thus saved their lineage. Though derived from brahmanas, the children were kshatriya children. This act is accepted and not looked down upon.
Let me tell you of another instance. Utatha, was the brother of Brihaspati. He had a wife called Mamata, seeing whom Brihaspati could not control himself. When Brishapati spoke to her, she said this was not the time as she was carrying his brother's child. Her womb was not capable of carrying two children at the same time, from two different fathers.
Not listening to her words, Brihaspati climbed on top of the woman and ravaged her.The child in the womb said to Brihaspati, your semen entering the womb is burning me. Please stop.

Brihaspati would not listen and kept on with his act. The child raising his feet, blocked the path of the semen, which rolled out and fell on the ground.

Angry, Brihaspati cursed the child to be born blind in both eyes.
The blind child fell into evil ways. The other people refused stay in his company. They decided to get rid of him. The sages caught him, tied him on a raft and pushed him in the river Jhanavi. Floating away he was spotted by the King Bali who rescued him. The king seeing he was a brahmin got him home and made place for him as a priest. He asked his queen Sudeshna to serve him, as by his grace she would have a child.

The queen seeing a blind sage refused to go near him and sent a maid. The maid soon after gave birth to a child who grew up, learning the Vedas.

One day the king went to the quarters of the blind sage and seeing the boy, wanted to know who he was., The sage said this is my son, born of the queen's maid. Knowing me to be blind, your queen sent her maid and this is that child born from the maid.

The queen went to the blind sage, begged his forgiveness and soon gave birth to three sons - Anga, Banga and Kalinga. They became of kings later of Anga, Banga and Kalinga lands.

Ending his story, Bhishma said it was proper for a queen to have child through a brahmin. He asked Satyavati to consult with the minsters and find a way out.

Satyavati told Bhisma about her son, Vyasa, that she had through Parasara. The child born on an island was called Dwaipayana. Having learnt all the Vedas, he was called Vyasa. Being dark he was also called Krishna.
She said the child had told her, that whenever she needed him , she needed to call him and he would appear.

Bhishma said Then there is nothing to worry about. He will be our savior and through him our lineage will grow.

Amba Ambalika and Ambika

Bhishma addressing the king of Kashi said : My brother Vichitravirya is the king of Hastinapur. I have come on his behalf to carry away your daughters as his wives.
Climbing on to his chariot with the three sisters, he said if any one wanted to challenge him, he was ready for a duel.
Weapons started showering on Bhishma., Having learnt his skills from the greatest of the teachers, Bhishma was easily able to combat every weapon hurled at him.
Many warriors fell dead on the field.
The king of Shalva challenged Bhishma. A great fight started between the two great warriors. Bhishma was able to take control and cut off his chariot. The king of Shalva fled from the battlefield and Bhishma did not pursue him.

Reaching Hastinapur, Bhishma started preparations for the wedding of Vichitravirya. He asked the priests to get ready.

The three princesses then sat next to Vichitravirya. The eldest of the three, Amba then spoke to Bhishma : You are a learned person, son of Shantanu. Of all the kings present, I have given my heart to the king of Shalva. My father had agreed to this wish of mine. I would request you to please give me away to the king of Shalva.

Bhishma and the present brahmanas agreed and Amba approached the king of Shalva. Having faced a defeat in the hands of Bhishma, the king refused to accept her.

Knowing that Bhishma would not marry her, Amba sad and ashamed lit a pyre. Stepping into the fire she said she had suffered injustice because of Bhishma and wanted to be born to be the cause of Bhishma's death.

Ambalika and Ambika, the other two sisters got married to Vichitravirya. Soon after, Vichitravirya developed tuberculosis and passed away childless. 

Chitrangad and Vichitravirya

Soon after her wedding with Shantanu, Satyavati gave birth to a son who was named Chitrangad. After some time, she gave birth to another son who was named Vichitravirya.

Some time after, Shantanu passed away, leaving Bhishma, Satyavati and the young princes grieving.
Bhishma looked after the young princes as if they were his own sons. Chitrangad was crowned king. As he was very young, Bhishma acted as the king in place of Chitrangad.

Soon Chitrangad grew to become a handsome youth, skilled in archery. He once got into a fight with a gandharva, called Chitraratha. For years they fought each, in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. In that, Chitrangad was killed.

On his brother's death Vichitravirya was crowned king. People started thinking of his marriage. The king of Kashi had three daughters for whom he was holding a swayamvar.

Bhishma hearing this news, left for Kashi.The king of Kashi greeted him. 

Boon of Ichha Mrityu

Bhishma then approached Satyavati , bowing down before her with folded hands, asked her to accompany him and take her place in Hastinapur.
Climbing Bhishma's chariot, both reached Hastinapur.

All greeted them with the chants of Bhishma. Bhishma presented Satyavati to his father. Greatly pleased, Shantanu blessed his son with the boon of dying once when he wished to.