Summary- Birth Of Heroes (Mahabharat) - 1 | Mahabharat Tales: The Battle of Good and Evil - Class 6 PDF Download

The story begins with three brothers named Pandu, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura. Pandu was skilled in archery, Dhritarashtra possessed extraordinary physical strength, and Vidura was a scholar. However, Dhritarashtra was blind and Vidura was born to a maid servant, making them unfit to be kings.

Marriages and Responsibility

To solve the problem of succession, Gandhari, the daughter of King Subin of Ganga state, married Dhritarashtra. She chose to blindfold herself as a mark of solidarity with her blind husband. Pandu married Kunti, and later, Bhishma arranged his marriage with Madri, the sister of the king of Madra state. Bhishma, after ensuring the well-being of the brothers, was relieved of his responsibilities.

Birth of the Pandavas

Pandu, Kunti, and Madri went on a hunting expedition and camped near the Himalayan region. Kunti gave birth to Yudhishthira, the first son of Pandu, which brought joy to the citizens. 

PandavasHowever, Gandhari, feeling insecure, lamented the fact that she had not borne a son before Kunti. In her distress, she struck her womb, resulting in 101 fetuses.

Divine Intervention

Lord Vyasa appeared and instructed Gandhari on how to handle the situation. He divided the fetuses into 101 pots filled with ghee, covering each with lace. Gandhari followed his instructions and, over time, gave birth to 100 sons and one daughter.

Ominous Signs

During the birth of the Kauravas, inauspicious signs were witnessed. Crows and foxes cried loudly, a fire broke out, and other unfavorable omens appeared.

Pandu's Tragic Fate

Meanwhile, Pandu, living in the forest, accidentally killed a sage who had transformed himself into a deer. Cursed by the dying sage, Pandu became consumed by grief and renounced worldly desires. He asked his queens, Kunti and Madri, to return to Hastinapur, but they chose to stay in the forest for penance.

Kunti's Secret

To console Pandu, Kunti revealed a secret mantra she had obtained from the sage Durvasa. The mantra allowed her to invoke any god and conceive a child. With Pandu's permission, Kunti used the mantra and gave birth to three sons: Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna. Madri, too, used the mantra and had two sons: Nakula and Sahadeva.

Pandu's Death

Despite having children, Pandu remained sorrowful and eventually died due to the grief he carried. Madri, unable to bear her sorrow, also passed away. The bodies of Pandu and Madri, along with the five Pandavas and Kunti, were taken to Hastinapur.

Moral

The story highlights the complex family dynamics and the consequences of actions driven by insecurity and jealousy. It emphasizes the importance of accepting one's fate and the need to overcome personal desires for the greater good. The births of the Kauravas and Pandavas, guided by divine intervention, set the stage for the epic tale of the Mahabharata, with its profound lessons on duty, righteousness, and the consequences of choices.