The royal marriages: Pandu with Kunti & Madri – Dhritarashtra with Gandhari

Kunti and Karna

Surasena was the chief of Yadu-s. He is the father of Vasudeva. His daughter was named as Pritha, a matchless beautiful girl. Surasena gifted her female child to Kuntibhoja, his father’s sister’s son, as he was childless. In her step-father’s house, she was appointed to greet and honor the gods and guests. She was renamed as Kunti

This virtuous lady served rishi Durvasa during his visit. The delighted rishi taught a mantra to Kunti.

Whichever gods you summon through the use of this mantra, will grant you sons through their grace.

Tamil Translation:
இந்த மந்திரத்தின் மூலம் நீ எந்த கடவுளை அழைத்தாலும், அவர்களின் அருளால் உனக்கு மகன்கள் பிறப்பார்கள்.
– Durvasa to Kunti, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Though she is still a virgin, she summoned Arka, the sun God, out of curiosity. She became a mother of a warrior. To escape from the blames of her parents and relatives, she left the child in a Wooden deck and left it in water.

He was later saved by Adhiratha and Radha. They named the baby boy as Vasushena and raised as their child.

Kunti marries Pandu

When Kunti was at marriageable age, his father arranged for Swayamvara. Kings across the world were invited to participate. Kunti found Pandu, the king of Hastinapur and the son of Vichitravirya. Kuntibhoja was happy too as this marriage will bring his kingdom close to Kuru dynasty. Kunti was the first grand-daughter-in-law for Satyavati.

Kunti's marriage with Pandu, Painting from Jammu and Kashmir — Kunti’s marriage with Pandu, Painting from Jammu and Kashmir

Pandu marries Madri

Pandu and Kunti did not make any children. Children were seen as important in kingdom as they succeed the throne after his father. It was considered as King’s rights to find additional wives if his queen is unable to make child. Kunti’s reputation was stained due to her premarital liaison as well.

Pandu went on expedition to expand his kingdom. He went to Madra kingdom also. (present day Sialkot in Pakistan). Though it is his inability to give birth to a child with Kunti, he purchased Madri, who was known for her exceptional beauty. She is the princess of Madra and sister of ruler Shalya.

Thereafter, with Devavrata Bhishma, he went to the capital city of the Madra kingdom. Madri, the daughter of the king of Madra, lived there. She was famous in the three worlds and among all the kings for her beauty, which was unmatched on earth. For Pandu’s sake, he bought her with a great deal of riches. Bhishma got the great-souled Pandu married off.
Vaisampayana to Janamejaya, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Pandu won many kingdoms. He got enormous wealth from the treasuries of such small kingdoms. He gifted it to Bhishma, Satyavati, Ambika and Ambalika as Dhritarashtra preferred. But his inability to beget a child made his life stressful. To win over it, he spent time on hunting in forests.

Gandhara princess agree to marry Dhritarashtra

Bhishma looked for a princess to marry the blind prince Dhritarashtra almost at the same time Pandu got married. He was searching for a beautiful bride from a powerful kingdom. He felt Gandhari, daughter of Gandhara king Suvala, may be a good match. He heard that the princess of Gandhara is not only beautiful but also had a good fortune as she has been granted a boon by Shiva – using which she will be a mother of hundred sons.

Bhishma sent a word to Suvala. Suvala was confused because of the blindness of the elder prince of Hastinapur. But the power of Kuru’s kingdom was an attractive offer to him. He agreed and started the nuptial process.

On hearing about misfortune of her to-be-husband, princess Gandhari decided not to get any external pleasures which was not naturally available to her husband and blind-folded herself using a piece of cloth. Thus a blind folded queen was a strong metaphor in Indian mythology.

O descendant of the Bharata lineage! O king! When Gandhari heard that Dhritarashtra was blind and that both her father and mother had agreed to give her to him, the beautiful one who possessed many qualities picked up a piece of cloth. As devotion to her husband, she tied up her eyes with this, deciding resolutely that she would never experience more than what her husband could….. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Gandhari of the beautiful hips satisfied all the Kurus with her acts, behaviour, attentiveness and conduct. She was devoted to her husband. She did not even mention other men in her speech.

Tamil Translation:
பரத பரம்பரையில் வந்தவனே! அரசே! திருதராஷ்டிரன் பார்வையற்றவனாகவும், அவளை அவனுக்குக் கொடுக்கத் தன் தந்தையும், தாயும் சம்மதித்ததைக் கேள்வியுற்ற பல குணங்கள் கொண்ட அந்த அழகிய காந்தாரி, ஒரு துண்டை எடுத்தாள். கணவனின் மேல் உள்ள பக்தியாக, தன் கணவனால் முடிந்ததை விட அதிகமாக அனுபவிக்க மாட்டேன் என்று தீர்மானமாக அவள் கண்களைக் கட்டினாள்…. பரத பரம்பரையில் வந்தவனே! மெல்லிடையாள் காந்தாரி தன் செயல்கள், நடத்தை, கவனிப்பு மற்றும் நடத்தை ஆகியவற்றால் அனைத்து குரு வம்சத்தினரையும் திருப்திப்படுத்தினாள். கணவனிடம் பக்தி கொண்ட அவள், தன் பேச்சில் மற்ற ஆண்களைக் குறிப்பிடவே இல்லை.
Vaishampayana to Janamejaya, Adi Parva, The Mahabharata Set Of 10 Volumes

Gandhari entered into Hastinapur with all her riches and traditional offerings. As per their tradition, her brother Shakuni, known to be a destroyer, went along with her.

Dhritarashtra – though he is elder – was forbidden from the throne due his disability. Whatever he lost, he wanted to give it to his son. So he said Gandhari that they should give birth to a son before Pandu, so that his son can lead the seniority.

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