The Birth of the Pandavas

After Kunti told Pandu about Sage Durvasa's boon, he began to smile. He saw new rays of hope and understood that, with the help of Kunti's boon, he could obtain godly children.

Kunti first summoned Dharmaraja (the god of justice). The son born due to his blessings was named Yudhishthira. A voice from the sky declared to Pandu, "Your son will be extremely virtuous and rule the earth. He will never tell a lie." 

She then invoked Vayu (the wind god). A similar voice declared during the birth of their second child, "This boy will be exceedingly strong. He will be called Bhima."

Finally, she summoned Indra (the king of the gods). He too gave her a son, who was born during the rise of the Phalguna Nakshatra and was named Phalguna, Arjuna, or Partha (son of Pritha). As clouds thundered, a voice declared from the sky, "This son of yours will be undefeatable in war, like Indra. He will vanquish all his enemies."

Madri also wished to have children. However, she felt that Kunti, being her co-wife, would not fulfill her desire. So, she requested Pandu to convey her wish to Kunti. Pandu told Kunti to help Madri bear children. Kunti taught Madri the mantra to summon the gods. Madri summoned the twin gods of medicine, the Ashwini Kumaras. The Ashwini Kumaras' blessings caused Madri to bear twin sons named Nakula and Sahadeva.

Pandu was overjoyed to have five children. He lived happily with his wives and sons in the forest, where they spent a total of sixteen years. Pandu's third son, Arjuna, had become a handsome young lad of fourteen. On his birthday, Brahmins were invited to the forest for a feast. Both queens wore beautiful dresses, and the younger queen, Madri, looked especially attractive that day. Pandu could not control himself and began to make love to her. Madri tried her best to resist, but it seemed that fate had other plans. Sage Kindama's curse came true, and Pandu died in Madri's arms. She started sobbing uncontrollably.