Birth Story of Pandavas



Pandu has two wives, Kunti and Madri. With Kunti, he has three sons, namely Yudhishthira, Bhima and Arjuna. And with Madri, he has two sons, namely Nakula and Sahadeva. One day, Pandu was roaming in the forest for hunting. He saw a deer coupling with his mate. Without knowing the real identity of those deers, he shot them with his arrows. In reality, they were Rishi Kindama and his wife coupling with each other in public in the form of deers. 
Rishi Kindama was enraged with Pandu, not because he pierced both of them with his arrows as he (Pandu) doesn’t know their real identity. But because he has waited until the completion of their intercourse and was not sorry for his wrongdoing.
Enraged Rishi Kindama cursed Pandu, saying,
Cruel as you have been to a couple, death shall certainly overtake you as soon as you will feel the influence of desire…
When you go to your dear one, full of desire as was the case with me, you will at that time, certainly go to the land of the dead.
Your wife, with whom you will join at your last moments will also go with you with reverence and affection to the ever unavoidable land of the dead.


It simply means that Pandu will die the moment he engaged in intercourse with any woman. Also, the woman also dies with him out of love and affection.  During his wanderings in the forest, Pandu met some sages. While discussing the concept of heaven and salvation with them, he was appalled to learn that a man without children could never aspire for heaven. He then sought their blessings, and they blessed him, saying, "You will have many worthy and illustrious sons." After this incident, Pandu began to think of ways by which he might obtain children. He spoke to Kunti about it, and suggested her that she beget children by suitable, illustrious men. At this point Kunti narrated an incident that occurred when she was a girl.
Kunti an adopted daughter of KuntiBhoja was appointed by her father to serve sage Durvasa, who was known for his extreme tempers and spiritual powers. Kunti served the sage with reverence and discipline, pleased by her devotion the sage granted her a boon, he taught her a mantra to invoke any of the heavenly gods and get a powerful son from him, and the mantra was only valid for 5 times.
The Pandavas are the five sons of Pandu, a king of the Kuru dynasty. Yudhishtra, Bheema and Arjuna were born to Kunti, his first wife. The twins Nakula and Sahadeva were born to his second wife Madri. Each of the Pandavas has a divine father, as Pandu was incapable of fathering a child as a result of a curse.


1. Yudhishtra
The father of Yudhishtra is Yama.
The eldest Pandava brother. His name means one who is steadfast even during war. He is the son of Kunti and Dharma, god of virtue, justice and morality. Though he lacked the characteristic combat prowess of a Kshatriya, Yudhishthira was one of the most virtuous men, skilled in the duties of a king, and was steadfast in the path of Dharma. He was a good king who along with his brothers, founded the prosperous city of Indraprastha. In consequence of Krishna's machinations and also by the conquest of the world by his brothers, Yudhishthira became the Emperor of the world. He performed two Ashwamedha and one Rajasuya sacrifice. Yudhishthira learnt to control the dice from the Sage Brihadaswa and became good at playing chess. His other names are Ajatshatru and Dharmaraja.

2. Bheema
The father of Bheema is Vayu.
The second Pandava brother. His name means "of terrible might". He is the son of Kunti and Vayu, the god of air and wind, who is known for his might. Bhima has the physical strength and prowess equal to 10,000 powerful bull elephants and very athletic. Bhima was very aggressive and prone to anger. Of all the brothers, he opposes Yudhishthira for his questionable decisions opposing common sense in the name of Dharma, although Bhima is very loyal to him. Bhima was devoted to his family and was the natural protector. He was a master in wielding the mace. Bhima was also a powerful archer, having fought Drona and Ashwatthama and even defeated Karna on several occasions. Additionally, Bhima was also very skilled in diverse areas of warfare, including wrestling, charioteering, riding elephants and sword fighting. Along with Arjuna, he went on expeditions to conquer the kingdoms in eastern and southern directions. During the Rajasuya Yagna, Bhima subjugated the kingdoms of the eastern direction completely. Bhima slew Krishna's most dangerous enemy, Jarasandha in a wrestling bout and the Matsya commander, Kichaka for molesting Draupadi. During the war, Bhima was most famous for slaying the hundred Kauravas and King Duryodhana himself. He was also skilled in chopping wood, cooking, culinary arts and sciences. Bhima's other name is Vrikodara.

3. Arjuna
The father of Arjuna is Indra.
The third Pandava brother. His name means "of stainless deeds". Arjuna is the son of Kunti and Indra, King of the gods and the god of the sky and war. He was very virtuous and avoided unjust acts. He is known for his singleminded concenteration and his devotion towards Krishna. Arjuna was more fortunate than his brothers as he was the favourite of Bhishma, popular among people, famous among the gods and attractive to women. Arjuna was the favorite disciple of his Guru Dronacharya, who taught weapons. Arjuna is perhaps the greatest and ambidextrous archer and had mastered archery to the highest possible level. He was rivalled by Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Krishna. In those days, archery was considered to be the foremost of all fighting discipline, and Arjuna's mastery over it contributed to his popularity. Arjuna was a complete master archer, a supreme chariot warrior and had also obtained near perfect mastery over almost all divine, celestial and esoteric weapons, along with their secrets of invoking and recalling them. Arjuna spent five years acquiring and mastering divine weapons from Indra and the other gods. Arjuna also acquired the mastery over the rarest and the most powerful weapon, the Pashupata, from Lord Shiva himself. Arjuna and Bhima had conquered the eastern and southern kingdoms. During the Rajasuya Yagna, Arjuna subjugated the northern kingdoms. He defeated the Asura tribes of Nivatakavachas, the Kalakeyas and the Paulomas. Along with Krishna, Arjuna burnt down the Khandava forest. During the Ashwamedha Yagna, Arjuna conquered the entire world. According to Yudhishthira, of all the Pandavas, Draupadi loved Arjuna the most. During the Kurukshetra War, Arjuna slew Bhagadatta, Susharma, Sudakshina, Jayadratha, Shrutayu and Karna. He was the only Pandava brother to know the secret of the Chakravyuha military formation. Arjuna was also skilled in playing musical instruments, singing, dancing and poetry. He taught these skills to his daughter-in-law, Uttara. Arjuna's grandson, Parikshit, succeeded the Pandavas as king. Arjuna's names include Gudakesha, Krishna, Shwetavahana, Sabyasachin, Kiritin, Vijaya, Jaya, Bibhatsu, Dhananjaya, Phalguna, Jishnu and Partha (son of Pritha a.k.a Kunti).

4. Nakula
The fathers of the twins Nakula and Sahadeva are the divine Ashwini twins.
The fourth Pandava brother. His name means "the charming one". Nakula is the son of Madri and the Ashwin twin Nasatya. He was attractive, humble, diplomatic and helpful. During the Rajasuya Yagna, Nakula conquered the Western direction. During the Kurukshetra War, Nakula slew many warriors including many sons of Karna. Nakula and his younger twin brother, Sahadeva, were excellent sword fighters. Nakula was also a master of equastrian arts and sciences, skilled in wielding unusual weapons, in chariotry and in riding horses.
5. Sahadeva
The fifth and the youngest brother of the Pandavas. His name means "equal to a thousand gods". Sahadeva is the son of Madri and the Ashwin twin Dasra. Sahadeva was the wisest and the most mysterious and introverted of all Pandava brothers. Along with Nakula, Sahadeva was also a master in sword fighting. He was also skilled in fighting and taming wild bulls. Additionally, he was a skilled cowherd, capable of maintaining cattle, treating their diseases, assessing their health, milking them and in producing milk products. Sahadeva acquired mastery over the science of Dharma, religious scriptures and other branches of knowledge under the tutelage of the Sage Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods. During the Rajasuya War, Sahadeva conquered the southern direction, up to the kingdom of Lanka. During the Kurukshetra War, Sahadeva slew the wicked Shakuni and his son, Uluka.


6. Karna
The unknown Pandava. His name refers to his congenital earrings when he was born. Karna is the son of Kunti and Surya, the god of the Sun. He was born when many years ago before Kunti's marriage to Pandu and the subsequent birth of the Pandavas. When she was unmarried, Kunti rashly tested the power of Durvasa's mantra, invoking Surya. Bound by the power of Durvasa's mantra, Surya sired Karna with Kunti. Karna was born with congenital armour and earrings, which granted him some immunity to divine weapons. Kunti abandoned Karna, who was found and raised by a family of charioteers. Though Karna was wealthy, he was never given the status of a Kshatriya and was ridiculed by people for his desire of being a warrior. Karna was known to be charitable, firm in his principles and his unswerving loyalty. In his childhood, he befriended Duryodhana which lasted into a strong and enduring friendship and brotherhood. However, this resulted in Karna supporting Duryodhana's evil schemes against the Pandavas. Along with the royal princes, Karna learnt to wield weapons from Drona. When Karna desired to learn divine weapons and advanced archery lessons from Dronacharya, the latter rejected him for not being a Kshatriya and for having bad company with Duryodhana. Humiliated, Karna swore revenge on Drona and decided to study from Drona's own martial guru, the legendary Parashurama, who also happened to be Bhishma's martial guru as well. Fearing Parashurama's wrath, Karna lied his identity of being a Brahmana. Parashurama welcomed Karna and rigorously trained him in martial disciplines. Guru Parashurama himself declared Karna to be his own equal. However, Parashurama discovered Karna's lies and cursed him to forget the Brahmastra when he needed it the most. Karna returned to Hastinapur, much to everyone's surprise. Duryodhana crowned Karna as the King of Anga and knew him to be a powerful ally against the Pandavas. Despite Karna's initial defeats and failures against the Pandavas, he did achieve many accomplishments. Karna helped Duryodhana kidnap the princess of Kalinga in her Swayamvara and he singlehandedly defeated all the kings in battle. When criticized by Bhishma, Karna pointed out that Bhishma too had done the same thing in the past. Karna was the only warrior to defeat and humble the powerful Jarasandha in battle. Jarasandha for the first time and only time, surrendered to Karna and made an alliance with him. When Bhishma ridiculed Karna for his pathetic combat prowess, Karna single handedly conquered the entire world and made Duryodhana the emperor. During the Kurukshetra War, Bhishma declared that the Pandavas were invincible. Karna proved him wrong by vanquishing Yudhishthira, Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva on many occasions during the battle. Yudhishthira was mortally afraid of Karna. Despite Parashurama's curse, Karna was able to invoke the Brahmastra albeit with great difficulty. Urged by Krishna, Arjuna beheaded Karna when he was trying to pull his chariot wheel from the mud. Karna possessed the might of 10,000 elephants and was a great master in archery, surpassing even Dronacharya. When Kunti revealed Karna's true origin to the Pandavas, they were completely devastated. Yudhishthira nearly lost the will to rule the kingdom after finding the truth about Karna.

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