Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Pandu with his wives Kunthi and Madhri lived a
blissful life in the woodland, he was anxious to see his wives’ grief without
progeny. Pandu advised Kunthi to have a child from a Brahmin or a Sage as
Niyoga, Kunthi revealed her vow to remain loyal to her husband, therefore
refused to follow the same. Pandu narrates the story about the chastity
of the mother of Swethakethu.
Sage Uddhalaka and his chaste wife Kushikathmaja
had a virtuous son Swethakethu, the couple underwent severe penance for several
years, Swethakethu engrossed in the service to his parents. Once, an old
Brahmin Vipravan visited Sage Uddhalaka, he found Swethakethu enthusiastically
serving his parents. The Brahmin enquired about the child, Sage Uddhalaka
introduced Swethakethu as their devoted son. Vipravan sorrowfully exposed
his pathetic state, he remained an ascetic all his life, and according to Dharma
Sastra a childless never attains salvation without performing rituals after
death. He earnestly requested Sage Uddhala to allow him to have a child
in his chaste wife Kushikathmaja and right away took hold of her hand.
Swethakethu became furious at the unruly behavior of Vipravan, he grasped his
mother’s hand screamed at Vipravan to leave his mother at once. Vipravan
responded that he would leave Kushikathmaja after obtaining a son for the
performance of rituals to please his ancestors, also stated that it is not a
sin for his mother to have a physical relationship with him, it is permissible
in the Sastra for a childless Brahmin and deities can have offspring from a
married woman. Swethakethu in an anguish and pain announced that it is
necessary for every woman should undergo the practice of abstaining from
physical relationship on moral grounds, otherwise they would be treated as
sinners.
After listening to Pandu, Kunthi revealed the
Devabhoothi Manthra that was received from Sage Durvassa as a boon to have
virtuous progeny. This pleasant information brought Pandu in a state of
ecstasy; he was extremely unhappy about the fate of Hasthinapur without a legal
heir to the throne. Pandu overjoyed at the fortune Kunthi had brought to
Kuru Dynasty. Pandu prompted Kunthi to invoke Lord Dharmaraja to
obtain a righteous child, one who follow the path of morality at all times and
benevolent. Thus, Kunthi sincerely chanted the hymn and pleased Lord
Dharmaraja. A child was born to this couple as desired with the blessings
of Lord Dharmaraja that was Yudhishtira. Yudhishitira was born as legal
heir to the throne of Hasthinapur. Shortly, at the instruction of her
husband Kunthi invoked Lord Vayu and earnestly prayed for a child who has the
supremacy and might of Lord Vayu. Vrukodhar Bhima was born to the couple
with marvelous vigor on his arms as a blessing of Lord Vayu. Later,
Kunthi invoked Lord Indra and prayed for a child; Lord Indra blessed the couple
with a child Arjun, who has abundance of compassion and profound skill in
Archery. It was the decision of Kunthi that Madhri should not experience
the agony due to the absence of progeny any longer. Kunthi sincerely
taught the hymn to Madhri, she earnestly prayed to Ashwini Kumaras to have
offspring’s. Madhri was blessed with two sons Nakul and Sahadeva, they
were intuitive and had perfect knowledge in Vaidhya Sastra. Pandu along
with his wives and all five children lived a heavenly life in the woodland.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
