Pandu

Pandu
Information
Spouse(s)	Kunti, Madri
Children	Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna (from Kunti) Nakula, Sahadeva (from Madri)

In the Mahabharata epic, Pandu (Sanskrit: पाण्डु Pāṇḍu, lit. yellowish, whitish, pale ), was the king of Hastinapur, was the son of Ambalika and Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the earthly father of the Pandavas. He was said to be a great warrior and expanded his kingdom during his rule.

Kingdom and marriages

Pandu was taught in the fields of archery, politics, administration and religion by Bhisma. He was an excellent archer and Maharathi. He became the successor to his kingdom and was crowned King of Hastinapur.He was married to Kunti,the adoptive daughter of Kuntibhoja. Pandu later conquered the territories of the Sindhu Kingdom, Kashi, Anga, Trigarta Kingdom, Kalinga, Magadha, etc., and thus re-established their supremacy over all the kings and increasing the span of his empire.He was then married to Madri,the princes of Madra during this military campaign.

Curse

While hunting in a forest, (looking from a distance, his vision partially obscured by plants and trees) Pandu mistook Rishi Kindama and his wife who were making love in the form of deer and shot arrows at them, killing the Rishi. The dying sage placed a curse on Pandu, since he had not only killed them in the midst of lovemaking, but was not remorseful for his action. King Pandu argued with sage Kindama by misquoting sage Agastya's ruling on the right of Kshatriyas' on hunting. Sage Kindama then cursed Pandu, the curse being that were he to approach his wives with the intent of making love, he would die. Upset and seeking to repent his action, Pandu renounced his kingdom and lived as an ascetic with his wives.

Pandu shoots Kindama, who is disguised as a deer

See also

• Pandava
• The Pandeism of Godfrey Higgins