Pandu Cursed and Blessed
Part 1 / Chapter 2 / 83 chapters
Pandu Cursed and Blessed
restores Kuru authority through conquest, then withdraws to the with and . During a hunt he kills the sage , who is disguised as a mating deer, and is cursed to die if he approaches either wife in desire. Unable to beget children, learns that can summon gods by 's mantra. Dharma, , and beget , , and through ; uses the mantra once to call the Asvini twins, and and are born.
This guide follows Krishna Dharma's retelling as the source of truth. This panel notes broad edition-level framing or compression that helps a reader orient themselves.
- 1
restores Kuru authority through a victorious campaign.
With 's blessing, he defeats rebellious kings, kills at Rajagriha, and returns to with tribute.
- 2
leaves palace life for the Himalayan forest.
He gives wealth to his brothers, takes and with him, and governs on his behalf.
- 3
shoots a mating deer and learns it is the sage .
says was wrong to attack at the moment of union, even if hunting itself can be a royal duty.
- 4
curses 's desire itself.
Because killed him in pleasure, declares that will die the next time he approaches a wife in desire.
- 5
renounces royal life and takes a vow of celibacy.
He plans to live as an ascetic, but and refuse to leave him and accept the forest life beside him.
- 6
At , fears dying without sons.
The resident rsis tell him he is destined to have godlike children, which leads him to ask how heirs might be born.
- 7
reveals 's mantra instead of accepting an earthly man.
She explains that gave her a mantra able to summon any celestial, and that she already knows its power from .
- 8
Dharma begets through .
A heavenly voice declares that the child will be truthful, virtuous, powerful, famous, and fit to rule the earth.
- 9
begets , whose strength is revealed as an infant.
After falls from 's lap near a cliff, he is unharmed and the rock beneath him is shattered.
- 10
begets after a year of austerity.
and perform a difficult vow to please , and is born with prophecies of unmatched prowess.
- 11
refuses to summon another god for herself.
She tells that scripture does not sanction more than three such unions, even in emergency.
- 12
receives one use of the mantra and calls the Asvini twins.
and beget and , giving five sons in the forest.
- 13
The five Pandavas grow swiftly under the care of , his wives, and the rsis.
will not let use the mantra again, but is content with five extraordinary sons.