In the quiet groves of Naimisharanya, where the sacred fires glowed and the fragrance of samidhas rose heavenward, Ugrasrava, the son of Lomaharshana, began his narration to Saunaka and the assembled sages. The spoke of the Kuru race, how under the vigilant guardianship of Bhishma, the sons of Vichitravirya—Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura—were reared in the discipline of kingship and in the lore befitting princes. The dynasty stood rooted in strength, the rule of law flourished, and justice flowed like a perennial river. The Kuru realm, surpassing even the fabled Uttarakuru in wealth and prosperity, basked under the shade of dharma.
Timely rains blessed the soil, seasons moved in harmony, cattle multiplied in health, and the people, reverent towards nature, sustained a life of balance and responsibility. Trees bent with ripened fruit, flowers cast their fragrance into the air, mingling with the scent of fertile earth, and the land wore an air of unbroken joy. Human relationships were woven with reciprocity and kindness, forming a fabric radiant with harmony.
Under Bhishma’s guardianship, craftsmen prospered, each respectful of his art, while Vedic scholars preserved the sanctity of sacrifice and prayer, sustaining temples and pilgrim shrines, and weaving a culture of faith and mutual reverence. Everywhere, the air resonated with hymns, chants, music of the veena, flute, shehnai, and the beating of drums. Classical strains and folk traditions thrived side by side, neither suppressing the other, both upheld with passion and humility.
Bhishma, upholding his vow, enthroned the son of Ambika, Dhritarashtra, strengthening the realm with his bow and with Vidura’s wisdom. Neighbouring kings offered allegiance without dissent, and tribute was rendered as per ancient tradition. Hastinapura, adorned with prosperity and honour, shone as a jewel among kingdoms.
When Dhritarashtra reached marriageable age, Bhishma sought a fitting bride and heard of Gandhari, the noble daughter of Subala, king of Gandhara. Regal in bearing, sound in health, she was sought for the blind heir of Hastinapura. Though murmurs of protest rose among her kin, the elders prevailed, declaring the match a union of strength and strategy rather than mere sight. Thus Gandhari, accompanied by her brother Shakuni and a retinue bearing jewels, silks, steeds, and elephants, was brought to Hastinapura, where her marriage to Dhritarashtra was solemnized according to tradition.
Meanwhile, Pandu excelled in Vedic learning, in grammar and logic, and in the mastery of arms. He rode horses with matchless skill, wielded bow and sword with precision, and bore the frame of a warrior—tall, strong, and noble in character. To him Bhishma looked with hope for the future of the dynasty, and when he came of age, suitable alliances were sought. In those days, Surasena, the Yadava king, had given his daughter Pritha in adoption to Kuntibhoja. Known for her generosity and tireless service, she one day received the irascible sage Durvasa, who, pleased with her devotion, bestowed upon her a mantra that could summon any god to grant her a divine child. Out of innocent curiosity, she invoked the Sun upon the banks of the Ganga.
At once, the god descended in a blaze of splendour. Startled and trembling, the maiden pleaded for pardon, but the Sun, bound by the power of the mantra, blessed her with a son and at the same time preserved her maidenhood. The child, radiant and born with golden armor and earrings, was set afloat by her in a casket upon the river, and fate delivered him into the hands of a humble charioteer and his wife, Radha, who reared him with joy and named him Vasusena, later famed as Karna.
In time, Pandu’s prowess grew, and in a swayamvara, he won the hand of Madri, the princess of the Yadava house. Without pride or arrogance, he cherished her, and with Bhishma’s sanction and Vidura’s blessing, he brought her also to Hastinapura. Pandu now stood at the helm of the fourfold army, a terror to foes and a protector to allies, his fame spreading across kingdoms. Kings came with tribute, wealth poured into Hastinapura, and under the twin powers of Dhritarashtra’s sovereignty and Pandu’s valour, the Kuru throne shone in unrivalled majesty, known in distant realms and celebrated as the sovereign jewel among dominions.
