Death of a King

Kunti continued, “The curse hung over our heads like a dark monsoon cloud at the beginning of the rainy season. In  course of time, Paṇḍu was determined to have children, for the kingdom needed an heir. But we were all afraid of the brahmana's curse. We knew the power of a brahmana's word: Pandu faced certain death in the moment of conception. "

As Kunti spoke, the dawn had risen again over the battle plains of Kurukshetra. The sun rose through the mist.

"Madri and I performed penances and austerities in the sacred groves near the where the river flows.. We had spent a long time in the forest, trying to purify ourselves from our sins. After a time, I remembered the mantra given by Durvasa Muni. The memory of the sungod's child and how I set him on the river in a little wooden cradle weighed heavily on my mind. All these secrets that I held close to my breast burned my heart."

Kunti continued, "At last, one day I confessed to my husband, your father, the Lord Pandu, the entire history of the mantra given me by Durvasa; How its incantation would call any god on my command to beget a child. How if he were determined to continue the dynasty, we might rely on the holy power of the mantra."

"We wandered through the leafy banyan trees in the dark forest, making pilgrimages to different holy places. What was planned to be a romantic frolic in the woods had become a dark and dangerous path filled with austerities. Finally, Paṇḍu made his decision. If it were impossible for him to beget a natural heir, he would resort to supernatural means to continue the dynasty. It was the only way around the curse."

As Kunti spoke, the mist darkened. Clouds began to form. It would rain soon.

At last, he ordered me to use the mantra to get an heir for the throne of all the Indias. We had no other choice."

 Kunti turned to her son and fixed him with her eyes and said, “Now you have cursed me that I shall have no secrets before you, and have asked your mother to reveal all these confidential things and so I will tell you of your true origin, my son."

Pandu and Kunti from Hindi TV series

"Because of your father's misdeed and a brahmana's anger, your father had been cursed to die in the act of child-making, and so, on his order, that there be no shame in the matter, in the same way that I had called the god of the sun, I used the mantra to call the god of dharma, death himself, Yamaraja: and by him I was blessed with a child. You were that child. You are always so truthful and grave. You always see the deeper and darker side of things. And you owe this to your origin as the son of death."

The clouds began to thicken. Lightning flashed.

Kunti said, “And so it was that in time, my Lord and King, my son you were born, the truthful Yudhiṣthira . And yet, your father felt that you would need the protection of a brother, one whose force of arms could protect your reign in time of war. And so again I was bid by your father to use the mantra. He told me to call the mighty god of thunder.  And so I called a second god, Indra, the god of thunder, rain and lightning, the king of all the heavens. And by him I had that clever archer, your brother Arjuna. And he has grown to be the greatest warrior of all, expert in arms, but also wise, taking council from his cousin Krishna.

Rain began to fall freely. The drops pelted the canvas of their tent.

Kunti said, "Your father once more ordered me to have a son Again I used the mantra to call the god of the wind, Vayu. And by the wind-god Kunti had  Bhīma, the powerful wielder of the mace, battle-scarred warrior and voracious eater, brother to Hanuman whose might he has surpassed.

Finally I thought it fit that my sister in marriage, Madri, should also have children.  I taught the mantra to Madri who used it to call the Ashvini Kumars, twin doctors of the gods. She did so, and the gallant twin brothers, the learned and handsome Nakula and Sahadeva, expert in swords-play, horsemanship, and poetry, were her offspring.”

Kunti's voice choked. "Pandu tried to abide by the rules of the renounced. Spring came, the silver river overflowed its course. Lotuses bloomed in clear ponds near the bathing ghat.  The kokil birds chattered in their nests in the old tamarind tree and flowers blossomed everywhere. One morning the early sun cast a golden reflection in the water where Madri bathed in fresh water, washing her hair. She dipped into the water three times, repeating the holy name of the river as she felt its cooling waves. And standing again, her wet sari clinging to her fine figure, she could see the figure of her husband, the once proud king, standing on the shore. Pandu was overcome with passion. He took Madri by the shady grove near the bamboo where the morning flowers bloomed.

Pandu with Madri Hindi TV series

There he could restrain himself no longer. As their two bodies moved as one, and he was overcome by waves of desire, he felt overwhelmed by an intense pain in his heart. Madri stood away from him and looked in shock at his pallid face."

Kunti could no longer continue.  She stepped outside. A tear fell and mixed with the light rain that had now begun to fall. "The great king Pandu was  paralyzed by the brahmana's curse. Having completed his task of securing the dynasty, your father departed this world for the next. God have mercy on his soul."