Episode#14 The first son to Gandhari was Duryodhana who was born on same day as Bhima! Her second son was Dusshasana followed by daughter Dusshala who was later married to Jayadratha. Gandhari had prolonged pregnancy that lasted for two years and after learning that Kunti had given birth to her first son, she could not bear the mental trauma any longer, with great onslaught of frustration over-powering her, she started hitting her stomach with great fury! As a result, a ball of pink flesh rolled out her womb; frightened to the core, she immediately called upon Vyasa and asked him 'when she was blessed with 100 children and 1 daughter what was the reason for her being childless despite two years of non-productive pregnancy?' Vyasa dismembered the roll into 100 pieces of equal size and stored them in a Divine jar! After one year 100 Kaurava were born - the order of their birth has been aforementioned, the first Duryodhana then Dusshasana followed by Dusshala. During her long...

Episode#13 By some misfortune, Pandu received a curse from a brahmin that he would die if he had intercourse with any woman including his own wives. He wished to select an appropriate person who would father Kunti's child on his behalf. At that juncture, she told him about mantras that the Brahmin had bestowed upon her years ago. With Pandu's consent she called three God's to father her sons. Yudhishtira was born of God Yama (God of death and regulations). A year later, the second son Bhima was born (Wind God). This son comprised of a giant stature and powers. The following year, the third son Arjuna was born of Indra, the king of gods, thanks to the magic of the Divine mantras. After the birth of Arjuna, Pandu insisted Kunti to invoke another God but Kunti refused she said "I already had four husbands, now if I invite other men then as per law I will be known as prostitute!" Pandu was under the impression that four husbands meant where three gods and himself...

Episode#12 Pandu was married to Kunti, the daughter of King Sursena of the Yadavas clan where she was known as Pritha, King Kuntibhoja the elder brother of king Sursena, who was childless had adopted Pritha and renamed her as Kunti. When Kunti was young, her father King Kuntibhoja welcomed a visiting Brahmin as their guest and asked Kunti to attend him. In those days sex hospitality was offered to distinguished guests. (A few scriptures mention about a Brahmin from whom Kunti begot a child a child who was supposedly named as Karna but it has not been clearly established elsewhere and hence Karna is widely known to be the child of Sun-God). Coming back to the first story, the aforesaid Brahmin was known for his great magical powers. Pleased with Kunti's dedicated and sincere services, he blessed her with several divine mantras with which she could call upon any God to father her child. After he left, Kunti out of her curiosity, chanted one of the divine mantras and called Sury...

Episode#11 Gandhari, the Princess of Gandhara, was bought as a bride of Dhritrashtra without disclosing about his blindness; it was only after marriage that she discovered that her husband was blind; she was terribly disheartened and upset with Bhisma since he was instrumental in bringing the alliance. In silent frustration, she kept quite and bound her eyes with a piece of cloth and adopted voluntary blindness throughout her life. Later Dhritrashtra discovered that this was her second marriage, she was born manglik (as per astrology, if the planet Mars is found in particular house of the girl's horoscope, it supposedly results in unhappy consequences of marriage) and as per rituals first she was married to banyan tree. Dhritrashtra was very annoyed since he was not informed about this before marriage. He captured her father King Subala and her brothers including Sakuni and imprisoned them to die starving; they were served only small bowl of rice everyday. King Subala thought a...

Episode#10 Vichitravirya died without any children soon after marriage leaving Satyavati's dreams of her son's taking the throne of Hastinapur shattered into million pieces. The throne was left without any heir. She called Bhisma, absolved him from his vow and begged him to marry her daughter-in-laws but he refused, Satyavati left with no choice to beget children through her offspring Vyasa who was born before her marriage. After having meditated in forest for many years, Vyasa with his uncut hair, grown beard, tanned skin appeared unkempt and unappealing! When mother Satyavati requested him to beget a child from her widowed daughter-in- law, he requested her to grant him few days to get himself ready but having lost all her patience, she refused! With much hesitation and embarrassment, when he visited Princess Ambika, looking at his unkempt and unappealing face she closed her eyes with fear and blind Dhritrashtra was born! Vyasa was requested to visit other Princess Amb...

Episode#9 The story of the origin of Vyasa was known to a few as he was born in the middle of the night under strange circumstances. The story goes thus - Satyavati, also known as Matasya-Gandha' (since she smelled like a fish) she ferried people across river Ganga. One winter evening, the sun was about to set and she was contemplating to return home but when elderly sage named Parasar requested her to leave him on the opposite shore. Finding improper to decline him, she envisaged her last trip for the sake of the sage, when they were in the middle of the river, the sage expressed his desire to make love to her and have a child by her, with fear and apprehension, she said "if I bear a child, no one will marry me". The sage comforted and promised her, "do not worry, with my magical powers you will bear a child now but also regain your virginity." He also blessed her that she will never smell of fish; instead she will emit fragrance of flowers that all men wil...

Episode#8 Satyavati married to Shantanu, she gave birth to two sons who were named as Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. After few years rolled by, Shantanu died leaving his wife and two children in the safe custody of Bhisma. Chitrangada died in a war with Gandharvas, while the only surviving son Vichitravirya, who was impotent was proclaimed the king! Bhisma in order to ensure succession of the dynasty, enthusiastically sought bride for said prince Vichitravirya. The king of Kashi, arranged the ceremony of Swayamwara for his three daughters Amba, Ambika and Ambalika. Several princes we're invited except Vichitravirya as everyone knew he was impotent. Bhisma, annoyed for not being invited for the Swayamwara, he barged in the Swayamwara pavilion, abducted the three Princess and drove away to Hastinapur. On reaching Hastinapur, Amba the eldest, confided to Bhisma that she loved king Shalva and she was already bound to him with a vow. Bhisma immediately sent her with an escort to ...