One day, when Pandu was hunting in the forest, he shot an arrow at a buck who was with a doe. Before dying, the buck (which was actually a rushi in disguise) cursed Pandu that he will die the instant he touches any of his wives. Pandu was shocked but the damage was done. After returning to the hermitage, he narrated the events to his wives. They all agreed to lead the life of ascetics. ​Pandu regularly recalled the rushi’s curse and felt distressed, and Kunti painfully noticed it. It was then, that she decided to reveal a secret that she had kept close to her heart. Kunti said, “When I was young, Sage Durvasa came to my father’s house. I served the sage devotionally and as a result, the sage blessed me with a mantra through which I could invoke any god I desire to beget a son. The mantra, however, can be used only five times.” ​Pandu was very happy. There was a way the dynasty could continue after his demise. (Kunti, however, did not disclose to Pandu that she has already used the mantra once. After receiving the mantra, young that she was, Kunti was impatient to test the boon. She did so without giving much importance to the consequences. Dear children, never be impatient and undertake anything in a hurry. Haste is waste ! ​Kunti invoked the Sun Deity and was blessed with a son wearing earrings and impenetrable armour from birth. At that time Kunti was not married. She immediately realised that the child born out of wedlock would bring infamy to her her family. She was scared of losing her reputation; hence she put the newborn into a basket and set it afloat in the river Ganga. A childless charioteer luckily discovered the basket. He brought up the abandoned child as his own. The child was duly named Karna because he was born with the earrings (karn kundals). But let us see what happens to Karna later on.) Meanwhile, Sage Vyas visited Dhritarashtra and Gandhari took pains to ensure that the sage would have a comfortable time in the palace. Pleased with the reception he received, Sage Vyas decided to confer a boon on Gandhari. The queen asked for a 100 sons who would be as powerful as her husband. The Sage granted the boon and left. In the forest, Pandu requested Kunti to invoke Dharma, the God of righteousness, first. Kunti was blessed with Pandu’s first son Yudhishthir. The news of the birth of first child reached Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Gandhari was disturbed that despite the Sage’s boon she did not beget sons. She immediately called out to Vyasa rushi and requested him to hasten the birth of her hundred sons. Through his spiritual powers Vyasa did so hundred sons of Dhritarashtra emerged along with a daughter Dushala. Duryodhan was the eldest son while Dushashan was the second. As soon as Duryodhan was born, people began to see bad omens, which they thought would bring misfortune to the great dynasty. (Which turned out to be true! More of that later) ​Pandu requested Kunti to pray to the Wind God ‘Pavan’, following which Bheem, the second son was born. Indra blessed Kunti with the third son, Arjun. Madri was still childless. Pandu requested Kunti to pass on the mantra to Madri, the second wife of Pandu; so that she can also have a child. Madri invoked the twin Gods, Ashwini Kumar and was blessed with two sons, Nakul and Sahadev. Thus, with the boon received by Kunti, Pandu was blessed with five sons, Yudhishthir, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev. These five worthy children of Pandu were called Pandavas. They grew up strong and well behaved. They learned the art of war games from their able father Pandu. The rushis taught them the Vedas. It was a spring day while Pandu was strolling on the riverside, he saw Madri passing by. Aroused with passion he touched Madri and the rushi’s cuse took effect! Pandu died instantly. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mplanetleaf/message