"As per the law, no blind man can be the king". Thus spoke Vidura at the time of the crowning of the new king. Hence, Pandu was chosen as the king although he was younger to Dhritharashtra. Vidura who was taught the ideal laws of Dharma could not see why Bhishma (for once) wanted Dhritharashtra to be the king.
Dhritharashtra, Pandu and Vidura was raised by Bhishma as his own. At the time of coronation, he had selected Dhritharashtra to be the king before Vidura objected citing the law. This was the only time when Bhishma had wanted to not follow the law by the word. But then when objected to his decision by the same law, he gave in. In some retellings, it states that Bhishma was aware of Dhritharashtra's ambition to be the king which was very strong. It was at that time when Vidura stood up with the word of the law.Dhritharashtra was was quite saddened by this event but did not voice it out in the open.
Bhishma went to the kingdom of Gandhar and sought princess Gandhari for Dhritharashtra. In some folklore, Gandhari was not informed about the prince's blindness till she came to Hastinapur for the wedding. Out of anger, she blindfolded herself for life. In other retellings, Gandhari empathised with her husband a lot that to share his sorrow, she put the blindfolds on herself.
Is Dhritharashtra and Gandhari's blindness subject to a metaphorical review? As we will see in the future, Dhritharashtra is blinded by his love for his son and unable to execute his kingly duties in a just way. Gandhari too has handicapped herself and hence, cannot guide and help her sons grow properly. The sons become hateful towards their own cousins. Also, Gandhari's blindfolding herself makes us question about how we can forget one role (of a mother) to perform another role (of a wife) perfectly? Gandhari is again a strong woman and respected for this action but the epic wants to us to remember the results of this action.
Pandu went to Kunti's Swayamwara and was selected by her for marriage. Failing to conceive a child from Kunti, a second wife was purchased for Pandu. She was Madri, sister of Shalya, king of Madra. Of her too, Pandu did not beget a child. Vyasa never clearly statess the reason but in some folklore it is stated that Pandu was impotent. Also, Kunti's fertility was already proven (though as present it remains a secret).
Kunti might have felt insulted at Pandu marrying (purchasing) another woman to be his wife. Being a princess herself, she might be aware of the politics of the time. Maybe that is why she was adamant that her future five sons should always be united so that they can be the ruling party.
In the meantime, Pandu was becoming a powerful and famous king. He was conquering new lands and bringing them under his rule. Dhritharashtra tries to conceive a child through Gandhari so that he can beget a child before Pandu and this son can reclaim what was rightfully Dhritharasthra's.
Pandu incurs the curse of Sage Kindama as he kills Kindama and his wife while making love. Pandu was hunting and fired an arrow at what looked like an antelope. Only on coming closer, did Pandu realise it was Sage Kindama and his wife. The curse was that Pandu will die as soon as he embraces a woman with the intention of making love. Pandu decides to leave his throne and proceed to the forest to perform penance. The crown is handed over to Dhritharashtra who will rule it as a regent.
Kunti and Madri, the childless women and maybe, pious wives, decides to accompany Pandu to the forest.
This curse is again maybe put here to cover up Pandu's impotence as well as to correlate Pandu's death. The role of Kunti and Gandhari and their bearing on the epic is quite prevalent. This trivial situation too but was again one of the many factors for the great war. As we go ahead, we will see that there is no one person or event responsible for the great war as well as many of the events leading to it. The epic is an awesome scripture to indicate man his helplessness in face of the events that occur. How he reacts or rather acts, maybe that is the only freedom. Result of the actions is never in man's hands.
Dhritharashtra, Pandu and Vidura was raised by Bhishma as his own. At the time of coronation, he had selected Dhritharashtra to be the king before Vidura objected citing the law. This was the only time when Bhishma had wanted to not follow the law by the word. But then when objected to his decision by the same law, he gave in. In some retellings, it states that Bhishma was aware of Dhritharashtra's ambition to be the king which was very strong. It was at that time when Vidura stood up with the word of the law.Dhritharashtra was was quite saddened by this event but did not voice it out in the open.
Bhishma went to the kingdom of Gandhar and sought princess Gandhari for Dhritharashtra. In some folklore, Gandhari was not informed about the prince's blindness till she came to Hastinapur for the wedding. Out of anger, she blindfolded herself for life. In other retellings, Gandhari empathised with her husband a lot that to share his sorrow, she put the blindfolds on herself.
Is Dhritharashtra and Gandhari's blindness subject to a metaphorical review? As we will see in the future, Dhritharashtra is blinded by his love for his son and unable to execute his kingly duties in a just way. Gandhari too has handicapped herself and hence, cannot guide and help her sons grow properly. The sons become hateful towards their own cousins. Also, Gandhari's blindfolding herself makes us question about how we can forget one role (of a mother) to perform another role (of a wife) perfectly? Gandhari is again a strong woman and respected for this action but the epic wants to us to remember the results of this action.
Pandu went to Kunti's Swayamwara and was selected by her for marriage. Failing to conceive a child from Kunti, a second wife was purchased for Pandu. She was Madri, sister of Shalya, king of Madra. Of her too, Pandu did not beget a child. Vyasa never clearly statess the reason but in some folklore it is stated that Pandu was impotent. Also, Kunti's fertility was already proven (though as present it remains a secret).
Kunti might have felt insulted at Pandu marrying (purchasing) another woman to be his wife. Being a princess herself, she might be aware of the politics of the time. Maybe that is why she was adamant that her future five sons should always be united so that they can be the ruling party.
In the meantime, Pandu was becoming a powerful and famous king. He was conquering new lands and bringing them under his rule. Dhritharashtra tries to conceive a child through Gandhari so that he can beget a child before Pandu and this son can reclaim what was rightfully Dhritharasthra's.
Pandu incurs the curse of Sage Kindama as he kills Kindama and his wife while making love. Pandu was hunting and fired an arrow at what looked like an antelope. Only on coming closer, did Pandu realise it was Sage Kindama and his wife. The curse was that Pandu will die as soon as he embraces a woman with the intention of making love. Pandu decides to leave his throne and proceed to the forest to perform penance. The crown is handed over to Dhritharashtra who will rule it as a regent.
Kunti and Madri, the childless women and maybe, pious wives, decides to accompany Pandu to the forest.
This curse is again maybe put here to cover up Pandu's impotence as well as to correlate Pandu's death. The role of Kunti and Gandhari and their bearing on the epic is quite prevalent. This trivial situation too but was again one of the many factors for the great war. As we go ahead, we will see that there is no one person or event responsible for the great war as well as many of the events leading to it. The epic is an awesome scripture to indicate man his helplessness in face of the events that occur. How he reacts or rather acts, maybe that is the only freedom. Result of the actions is never in man's hands.
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