Sambhava Parva — Birth of Gandhari's sons

Vaishampayana said: O Janamejaya, one hundred sons of Dhritarashtra were born in the womb of Gandhari. Besides these one hundred sons, one more was born by a Vaishya wife.

Pandu had by his wives) Kunti and Madri five sons, all great car warriors, who were all begotten by celestial for the perpetuation of the (Kuru) dynasty.

Janamejaya said : O best of the twice born, why did Gandhari give birth to one hundred sons? In how many years (they were born)? What was their period of life?

How did Dhritarashtra beget a son on a Vaishya wife? How did Dhritarashtra behave towards his loving, obedient and virtuous wife, Gandhari?

How were born the five sons of Pandu, those great car warriors, through cursed by the high-souled man (the Rishi in the form of deer)?

O ascetic, tell me all this in detail. I am not satiated with hearing the accounts of my friends and relatives.

Vaishampayana said : One day Gandhari gratified Dvaipayana who came hungry and fatigued. Vyasa granted her a boon.

(Namely) that she should have one hundred sons like her husband. Sometime after she conceived by Dhritarashtra.

She bore the burden in her womb for two years without being delivered; she was, therefore, much afflicted with grief.

She heard that a son was born to Kunti, as effulgent as the morning sun. Being sorry that in her case the time of bearing the child in the womb was too long and being deprived of reason by grief, she stuck her womb with violence without the knowledge of Dhritarashtra. Thereupon was brought forth a hard mass of flesh like an iron ball.

She bone in her womb for two years. To seeing hard mass of flesh, she decided to throw it. Dvaipayana, knowing it, soon came to her.

The best of ascetics (Vyasa) saw that mass of flesh and asked the daughter of Subala, “What have you done?” And she (Gandhari) told her real feeling to the great Rishi.

Gandhari said : Having heard that Kunti had first given birth to a son, as effulgent as the sun. I struck at my womb in grief. You granted me the boon that I should get one hundred sons. But a ball of flesh has come out in the place of one hundred sons.

Vyasa said : O daughter of Subala, it is even so. My words can never be futile.

I have not spoken an untruth even in jest, why then will my words be futile! Let one hundred jars, filled with ghee, be brought in the proper way; let them be placed at a concealed place and let cool water be sprinkled on this ball of flesh.

Vaishampayana said : The ball of fresh, being thus sprinkled with water, became divided into hundred parts. They separately became hundred parts, each about the size of the thumb.

O king, that ball of fresh in time became gradually one hundred and one separate parts.

These were then placed into the jars, filled with ghee and they were placed at a concealed spot and were carefully watched.

The illustrious (Vyasa) then said to the daughter of Subala that she should open the covers of the jars after full two years.

Having said this and having made these arrangements, the illustrious and wise Vyasa went to the Himalayas mountains to perform his penances.

King Duryodhana was then in time born from them (the parts of the fleshy ball). According to the order of birth, Yudhisthira was the eldest.

The news of Duryodhana's birth was carried to Bhishma and the wise Vidura. On the day when haughty Duryodhana was born, on that very day was born mighty armed and greatly powerful Bhima. O king, as soon as that son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) was born, he roared and brayed like an ass, Hearing that sound, the arsons vultures, jackals and crows spontaneously cried.

Strong wind began to blow and fires regard in every direction. Thereupon, the frightened king Dhritarashtra summoning many Brahmanas, Bhishma, Vidura and other friends, relatives and Kurus, said-

“The eldest of the princes, Yudhisthira is the perpetuator of your race. He has acquired the kingdom by virtue of his birth. We have nothing to say to this.

"But will my son be able to become king after hi“? Tell me what is right and lawful.

O descendant of the Bharata race, jackals and other carnivorous animals began to how! ominously from all sides.

O king, seeing these frightful ominous signs, the assembled Brahmanas and the high minded Vidura said, “O king, O best of men, when these fearful ominous signs are seen at the birth of your eldest son. It is evident he will be exterminator of your race. The prosperity of the race depends upon his abandonment. There must be great calamity in keeping him.

O king, if you abandon him, there still remain ninety nine sons of yours. O descendant of the Bharata race, if you desire the good of your dynasty, abandon him.

Do good to the world and to your own race by abandoning him. It is said that an individuals should be abandoned for the sake of the family; a family should be abandoned for the sake of a village; a village should be abandoned for the sake of a country and the world should be abandoned for the sake of the soul.” Having been thus addressed by Vidura and the Brahmanas, the king, out of affection (for the son) did not act accordingly.

O king, there were born within a month one hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and also a daughter above and over that one hundred. When Gandhari was effected with her advanced pregnancy, a Vaishya maid servant was engaged to attended upon Dhritarashtra. O king, during that year, was begotten on her by Dhritarashtra illustrious and greatly intelligent son, who was afterwards named Yuyutsu, also called Karana. Thus were begotten by the wise Dhritarashtra one hundred sons, who were all heroes and (thus also was born) greatly powerful Yuyutsu born at a Vaishya woman. an