Quick Answer
Pandu was cursed by the sage Kindam after accidentally killing him and his wife while they were disguised as deer. Kindam declared that Pandu would die if he ever approached either of his wives with the intention of making love. This curse later became the reason for Pandu's tragic death.
The curse forced Pandu to give up his royal life and retire to the forest. As Pandu had already renounced the throne, Dhritarashtra took up the rule of Hastinapur.
The Story
Pandu was a skilled warrior and king of the Kuru dynasty. His elder brother was Dhritarashtra, who had been born blind. Because of his blindness, Dhritarashtra did not initially obtain the throne, and Pandu became king of Hastinapur.
After marrying Kunti and Madri, Pandu went hunting in the forest.
One day, Pandu saw two deer together and shot them with his arrows. As the wounded animals fell, Pandu discovered that they were not ordinary deer. They were the sage Kindam and his wife, who had taken the form of deer.
Kindam was deeply distressed. He told Pandu that although the king had not knowingly killed a Brahmana, his action had been cruel because he had attacked the couple while they were engaged in a private act. Kindam then pronounced a curse: whenever Pandu approached his wife with sexual desire and attempted to unite with her, he would die at that very moment.
Shaken by the curse, Pandu gave up his royal life and went into the forest with Kunti and Madri. With Pandu having renounced kingship, Dhritarashtra took up the rule of Hastinapur.
Since he could no longer have children himself, he worried about the continuation of the Kuru dynasty. Kunti then revealed the mantra she had received from Sage Durvasa, which allowed her to invoke celestial beings. Thus, the five Pandavas were born to Kunti and Madri. Yudhishthir, Bheem and Arjun were Kunti's sons, while Nakul and Sahadev were Madri's sons.
Years later, while living in the forest, Pandu was overcome by desire when he approached Madri. Despite the curse, he lost control and embraced her. As Kindam had foretold, Pandu died immediately.
After Pandu's death, the sages brought Kunti and the five Pandavas to Hastinapur. Dhritarashtra arranged for Pandu's funeral to be performed with royal honours.
Thus, the curse did not merely end Pandu's life. It forced him away from the throne, brought Dhritarashtra into direct rule of Hastinapur, and became one of the events that shaped the future of the Pandavas and the Kuru dynasty.
Did You Know?
- The Mahabharat specifically says that Kindam had taken the form of a deer because he did not wish to engage in intimacy openly in human society.
- Dhritarashtra was older than Pandu, but his blindness prevented him from initially receiving the throne.
Why It Matters Today
Pandu's story highlights the importance of restraint and the consequences of one's actions. His mistake happened in a moment, but its consequences shaped the lives of his family and the future of the Kuru dynasty.
References
- Mahabharat
- Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section 109: Pandu becomes king because Dhritarashtra is blind.
- Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section 119: Pandu renounces royal life and retires to the forest.
- Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Sections 123-125: Birth of the Pandavas and Pandu's eventual death.
- Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section 126: The sages take Kunti and the Pandavas to Hastinapur after Pandu's death.
- Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Section 127: Dhritarashtra orders the royal funeral ceremonies for Pandu and Madri.
- Udyoga Parva, Sections 147-148: Later discussions concerning Dhritarashtra's kingship and Pandu's renunciation of the kingdom.
