The Pandavas and Kauravas are Born

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 Ashwini Kumaras, the twin gods of medicine. The Ashwini Kumaras' blessings caused Madri to bear twin sons named Nakula and Sahadeva.

Meanwhile, in Hastinapura, Gandhari was also pregnant. However, her pregnancy was taking a long time, so Dhritarashtra had a child with Gandhari's maidservant, Sughada. The child was named Yuyutsu. After being pregnant for two years, Gandhari too gave birth—not to a child but to a lump of flesh!

Maharshi Vyasa divided the flesh into hundred and one parts and stored each of them in a clay pot. In time, a hundred boys and one girl were born in the pots. Duryodhana was the oldest, Dushasana the second, and Vikarna the third. The girl was named Dushala. These hundred and one children were called the Kauravas.

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.