A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose ( part-18)

A Story of Dvapar Yuga in Prose ( part-18)

By Lokanath Mishra

The Story Continues — From Hastinapur’s Heirs to the Birth of Yudhishthira

After the passing of the great King Shantanu, Hastinapur found new life through his descendants. The three sons of Sage Vyasa — Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura — grew under the care of Bhishma, the guardian of the Kuru throne.

Dhritarashtra, though born blind, was mighty in strength and deep in intellect. Pandu, pale but noble, was skilled in warfare and self-restraint. Vidura, though not of royal birth, was the wisest among them all — a voice of justice and truth in the Kuru court.

When the time came for the kingdom’s succession, Bhishma, ever devoted to righteousness, declared:
“Though Dhritarashtra is the elder, his blindness prevents him from leading the people. Let Pandu, the younger, rule the throne of Hastinapur.”

Dhritarashtra accepted the decision outwardly, though a shadow of disappointment crossed his heart. Thus, Pandu became the King of Hastinapur, while Dhritarashtra remained in the palace as a respected elder. Vidura served as the royal counselor, guiding both brothers with his clear wisdom.

The Marriages of the Kuru Princes

Under Bhishma’s careful guidance, noble alliances were forged for the Kuru house.
Dhritarashtra was married to Gandhari, the virtuous princess of Gandhara, who, in an act of deep devotion, bound her eyes with a silk cloth so that she might share her husband’s blindness.

Pandu was wedded to Kunti, the wise and steadfast daughter of King Kuntibhoja, and also to Madri, the gentle princess of Madra.

Vidura, though not of royal rank, lived a life of devotion and duty, guiding the court with his fairness and foresight.

The Curse of Pandu

King Pandu ruled wisely and with valor, conquering many lands and bringing great prosperity to Hastinapur. But fate had its own design.

Once, while hunting in the forest, Pandu unknowingly shot an arrow at a sage who had taken the form of a deer, resting with his wife. As the sage fell dying, he cursed the king, saying:
“O Pandu, as you have slain me at the moment of love, so too shall death seize you if ever you embrace your wives.”

The curse struck Pandu’s heart with terror and remorse. Renouncing the throne, he entrusted the kingdom to Dhritarashtra and retired to the forest with his queens, Kunti and Madri, to live in penance and solitude.

Kunti’s Boon and the Birth of Yudhishthira

Years earlier, when Kunti had served the sage Durvasa, she had been blessed with a divine mantra by which she could invoke any god to grant her a child. Remembering this boon, Pandu, still longing for sons but bound by the curse, said to her with humility:
“My beloved, though I cannot touch you, our lineage must continue. Invoke the gods, and let dharma itself be born in human form.”

Obeying her husband’s wish, Kunti meditated upon Yama, the god of justice and righteousness. With reverence, she chanted the sacred mantra, and the god appeared, radiant and serene.

He spoke gently, “O Kunti, your devotion is pure. You shall bear a son who shall be the very embodiment of truth and virtue — a man who will never swerve from the path of dharma.”

Thus, from the union of divine blessing and pure faith, Yudhishthira was born — the first of the Pandavas, a prince destined to uphold righteousness in the face of all adversity.

The birth of Yudhishthira brought great joy to Pandu and Kunti, for through him the Kuru dynasty had found its first beacon of hope. Yet, destiny was far from complete — for elsewhere, unseen by all, the wheel of fate was turning toward another miraculous birth that would one day challenge Yudhishthira’s destiny.

(To Be Continued )

The Story of Lord Venkateswara – The Eternal Protector of Tirumala

The Divine Lotus of Tiruchanoor – The Story of Goddess Padmavathi Devi

Forgotten Ties, Unspoken Wounds : The Tragic Journeys of Minakhi and Rupali

The Divine Journey of Lokanath Mishra