Pandu's Curse
पांडु शाप
Pandu accidentally kills a sage and his wife while hunting. He is cursed to die if he ever touches a woman.
SignificanceReason for Kunti's divine boon
- King Pandu
- Kindama Rishi
- Queen Kunti
- Queen Madri
In short
The Birth of the Heroes era of the Mahabharata (Early Years) covers birth of Pandavas and Kauravas, early life. It holds 9 recorded events, listed below in chronological order.
Year: -60 Year: -55 Amba Reborn as Shikhandi
शिखण्डी जन्म
After Amba immolates herself vowing to destroy Bhishma, she is reborn as Shikhandini, daughter of Drupada, who is raised as a son and later becomes the warrior Shikhandi.
SignificanceForges the instrument of Bhishma's destruction, fulfilling Shiva's boon to Amba
- Shikhandi
- Princess Amba
- Bhishma
Year: -52 Birth of the Kauravas
कौरव जन्म
Gandhari gives birth to 100 sons and one daughter through a boon from Vyasa. The mass of flesh was divided into 101 parts.
SignificanceBirth of the antagonists
- Queen Gandhari
- King Dhritarashtra
- Sage Vyasa
- Duryodhana
- Dushasana
- Dushala
Year: -52 Omens at Duryodhana's Birth
दुर्योधन जन्म अपशकुन
At the moment of Duryodhana's birth, jackals howl, donkeys bray, and fierce winds blow. Vidura counsels Dhritarashtra to abandon the child for the good of the dynasty, but paternal love prevails.
SignificanceThe first warning of the ruin Duryodhana would bring upon the Kuru race, knowingly ignored
- Duryodhana
- King Dhritarashtra
- Queen Gandhari
- Vidura
Year: -52 Birth of Yuyutsu
युयुत्सु जन्म
While Gandhari endures her two-year pregnancy, Dhritarashtra fathers a son, Yuyutsu, with a Vaishya serving-woman. He is born the same day as Duryodhana.
SignificanceThe one son of Dhritarashtra destined to choose dharma over blood
- Yuyutsu
- King Dhritarashtra
- Duryodhana
Year: -50 Birth of the Pandavas
पांडव जन्म
Kunti and Madri invoke gods to give birth to the five Pandava brothers through divine boons.
SignificanceBirth of the main heroes
- Queen Kunti
- Queen Madri
- King Pandu
- Yudhishthira
- Bhima
- Arjuna
- Nakula
- Sahadeva
Year: -45 Pandu's Death
पांडु मृत्यु
King Pandu dies from a curse, and Dhritarashtra becomes king. Pandavas return to Hastinapur.
SignificanceDhritarashtra becomes king
- King Pandu
- Queen Kunti
- Queen Madri
- King Dhritarashtra
- Vidura
Year: -45 Birth of Abhimanyu
अभिमन्यु जन्म
Abhimanyu is born to Arjuna and Subhadra, destined to become the greatest young warrior of his generation.
SignificanceBirth of the tragic hero
- Arjuna
- Subhadra
- Abhimanyu
- Krishna
Year: -40 Birth Of Draupadi From Fire
द्रौपदी अग्नि जन्म
Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna emerge from the sacrificial fire, born to destroy Drona.
SignificanceDivine birth for divine purpose
- Draupadi
- Dhrishtadyumna
- Drupada
- Yaja
- Upayaja