Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/242

228 boon granted by Dwaipayana. And amongst those hundred sons of Dhritarastra, four became celebrated. They are Duryyodhana, Dussanana, Vikarna, and Chitrasena. And Pandu had two jewels of wives-viz.. Kunti, also called Pricha, and Madri. One day Pandu, while out a-hunting, saw a deer covering its mate. That was really a Rishi in the form of a deer. Seeing the deer in that attitude, be killed it with his arrows, before its desire was gratified. Pierced with the king's arrow, the deer quickly changed its form and became a Rishi, and said unto Pandu,-'O Pandu, thou art virtuous and acquainted also with the pleasure derived from the gratification of one's desite. My desire unsatisfied, thou hast slain me! Therefore, thou also, when so engaged and before thou art gratified, shalt die r' Pandu, hearing this curse, became pale, and from that time would not go in unto his wives. And he told them these words :- 'Through my own fault, I have been cursed I But I have heard that for the childless there are no regions hereafter ! Therefore, he solicited Kunti to have offspring raised for bim. And Kunti, saying.--"Let it be'. So raised up offspring. By Dharma she had Yudhishthira; by Maruta, Bhima: and by Sakra, Arjuna. And Pandu, well pleased with her, said, 'This thy co-wife is also childless! Therefore, cause her also to bear children ! Kunti saying, 'So be it,' imparted unto Madri the mantra of invocation. And on Madri were raised by the twin Aswins, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. And (one day) Pandu, beholding Madri decked with ornaments, had his desire kindled. And, as soon as he touched her, he died. Madri ascended the funeral pyre with her lord. And she said unto Kunti-'Let these twins of mine be brought up by thee with affection !!! After some time those five Pandavas were taken by the ascetics of the woods to Hastinapura and there introduced to Bhishma and Vidura. And after introducing them, the ascetics disappeared in the very sight of all. And after the conclusion of the speech of those ascetics, flowers were showered down upon the spot, and the celestial drums also were beaten in the skies. The Pandavas were then taken (by Bhishma). They then represented the death of their father and performed his last honours duly. And as they were brought up there, Duryyodhana became exceedingly jealous of them. And the sinful Duryyodhana acting like Rakshasa tried various means to drive them away. But what must be can never be frustrated. So all Durryodhana's efforts proved futile. Then Dhritarashtra sent them, by an act of deception to Varanabata, and they went there willingly. There an endeavour was made to burn them to death; but it proved abortive owing to the warping counsels of Vidura, After that the Pandavas slew Hidimva, and then they went to a town called Ekachakra. There also they slew a Rakshasa of the name