01The pale king
Pandu was the finest archer of the three brothers, and became king. Kunti chose him at her svayamvara. Bhishma went to Madra and won Madri for him as a second queen, paying the bride-wealth that was the custom of her people to her brother Shalya. Then Pandu went out to conquer: he beat the Dasharnas, killed Dirgha of Magadha in his own city, and took tribute from Videha, Kashi, Suhma and Pundra, bringing such wealth home that Hastinapura rejoiced.
02The deer in the forest
Hunting in the forest, Pandu shot a stag that was mating with its doe. The stag was the rishi Kindama, who had taken that form with his wife. Dying, he cursed the king: the day he went to a wife in love, he too would die. Pandu was struck with remorse. He gave up the kingdom, sent his ornaments back to Hastinapura, and went to live as an ascetic with Kunti and Madri on the Shatashringa mountain. There the rishis told him that a man without sons could not go to the higher worlds.
03Sons of the devas
Then Kunti told him of the mantra Durvasa had given her. At Pandu’s word she called Dharma, and Yudhishthira was born; then Vayu, and Bhima; then Indra, and Arjuna. She gave the mantra once to Madri, who called the twin Ashvins and bore Nakula and Sahadeva. Years passed. One spring day in the flowering forest Pandu saw Madri alone, forgot the curse, and died in her arms. Madri gave her sons to Kunti and followed him onto the pyre, and the rishis brought Kunti and the five boys to Hastinapura.