![]() Kunti, while still a virgin girl, once called, out of curiosity, Surya, the sun god. The muni gave her a benediction that she could call any celestial being from the heavenly regions to produce children of the highest quality. Once, during her youthful years, she pleased, by menial service, the easily angered brahmana Durvasa Muni. Thus Pritha, who later became known as Kunti, lived in the palace of King Kuntibhoja and looked after the duties of greeting important guests and brahmanas. They agreed that if a girl was born to Surasena, she would be handed over to King Kuntibhoja who was childless. This was an agreement made previously by the two Kings. She was adopted by King Kuntibhoja, who had no children. He also had a daughter named Pritha, who was unrivaled in beauty among earth women. He was the father of the magnanimous Vasudeva. The chief of the Yadu dynasty was Surasena. Gandhari became so chaste and devoted to Dhritarastra, that she never spoke of men other than her husband or her superiors. Shakuni, the son of Subala, then took Gandhari to the city of the Kurus, Hastinapura, and formally handed her over to Dhritarastra. ![]() When the chaste Gandhari heard that her future husband was blind, she voluntarily blindfolded herself and took a vow to remain so for the rest of her life. King Subala at first hesitated, hearing that Dhritarastra was blind, but taking into consideration the blood line of the Kurus, he consented to marry her to Dhritarastra. Attracted to the idea of marrying Dhritarastra to Gandhari, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, sent messengers to the father of Gandhari. Bhishma had heard that Gandhari, the daughter of King Subala, was granted a benediction by Lord Shiva that she could have one hundred sons. They were Gandhari, the daughter of the Gandhara King, Pritha, the daughter of King Surasena, and Madri, the daughter of the King of Madras. Considering the situation, Bhishma decided that three princesses were worthy of being married to the Kuru princes. Therefore, neither of them could accept the throne.Īs Dhritarastra and Pandu matured in age, the time came to marry them to proper wives. In due course of time Pandu became King, for Dhritarastra was blind, and Vidura was born of a maid servant. As Pandu grew, he excelled all men in archery, whereas Dhritarastra excelled in personal strength, and it was soon known to everyone that there was no one equal to Vidura in devotion to Vishnu and knowledge of the dictates of morality. Maharaja Bhishma raised the three children, Dhritarastra, Pandu and Vidura, as if they were his own. Thus under the influence of a godly King the earth prospered. Hearing of the Kuru's prosperity, people came to take shelter in that kingdom. The people of Hastinapura were so contented with the rule of Maharaja Bhishma that they thought they were living in the Vaikuntha planets. The people became learned, brave and honest, and guided by Maharaja Bhishma, performed devotional sacrifices for the pleasure of Lord Vishnu. The seasons arrived and passed on time, and there was ample rainfall in the land of Bharatvarsha. There was an abundant harvest of crops, and all the trees were ladened with fruits and flowers. Upon the birth of Dhritarastra, Pandu, and Vidura, the earth prospered.
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