Meanwhile, in the kingdom of Hastinapura, Dhritarashtra, the elder brother of Pandu, and his wife, Gandhari, were blessed with a hundred sons, known as the Kauravas. The birth of the Kauravas was surrounded by divine intervention and a long period of intense penance by Gandhari.
In the royal chambers of Hastinapur, the air was thick with anticipation. For two long years, Gandhari, the queen of Dhritarashtra, had carried her unborn child, her heart brimming with hopes and dreams for the future. But this time of expectation was far from peaceful. Dhritarashtra, the blind king of Hastinapur, was consumed by a restless desire—he wished that his son would be the firstborn, the heir to the throne of the mighty Kuru kingdom.
As news of Yudhishthira's birth reached the royal palace, a wave of celebration spread throughout the land. The courtiers rejoiced, the people cheered, and the kingdom was alive with joy. But the joy was not shared by Dhritarashtra. His heart sank, for Pandu, his younger brother, had already secured the title of the first father with Yudhishthira. This child, born to Kunti, would now be the rightful heir to the throne of Hastinapur, leaving Dhritarashtra's son, in a position of obscurity.
The king, seething with frustration and unable to bear the thought of his son being denied his destiny, withdrew into his private chambers. There, he found solace in his own bitterness. He blamed his wife Gandhari for the long pregnancy and her failure to bear a son first. Feeling the weight of his frustration, Dhritarashtra, in his moment of weakness, sought comfort elsewhere. He left his chambers, seeking the company of a maid, driven by the urge to father a son—one who could one day rule the kingdom.
The news of Dhritarashtra's actions spread quickly, and Gandhari, still in the depths of her pregnancy, heard of her husband's betrayal. Her heart shattered into pieces. The woman who had always been devoted to her husband, who had endured the pain of her pregnancy in silence, now faced an unbearable betrayal. Tears streamed down her face, and an overwhelming sense of sadness engulfed her. Gandhari, unable to find peace in her own home, sought solace in her deep devotion to Lord Shiva.
In the stillness of the night, Gandhari went to the sacred Shivaling in the temple, a holy idol of Lord Shiva. She placed her hands on her swelling stomach, and in her sorrow, she beat her own belly, hoping for some relief from the pain she was enduring—both physical and emotional. "O Lord Shiva," she cried, "hear the suffering of your devoted servant. Why must I suffer in this way? Why must I bear such pain and sorrow when all I seek is peace?"
Her cries echoed through the temple as she collapsed, losing consciousness in her despair. For what felt like an eternity, she lay in a deep slumber, her body wracked with grief. When she awoke, the world around her seemed different. She felt a strange sensation, and looking down, she saw that she had given birth—but not to a child. In her arms lay a lump of flesh, twisted and malformed, unrecognizable as any human being.
Overwhelmed with grief, Gandhari wept bitterly. Her dreams of motherhood had been shattered, and the pain of her husband's actions, coupled with the bizarre birth, was too much to bear. As she sat in despair, her heart heavy with sorrow, a figure appeared before her.
It was none other than the great Vyasa Maharshi, the revered sage, who appeared as if summoned by divine will. His presence was serene, yet his eyes were filled with compassion as he approached the grieving queen. "Do not despair, Gandhari," he spoke softly, his voice a calming balm to her troubled soul. "I have been sent by Lord Shiva himself. He has seen your suffering, for you are His devoted follower. He could not bear to see His true devotee in such pain, and so He has sent me with a solution."
With a comforting gesture, Vyasa Maharshi explained, "This lump of flesh you have given birth to is not a curse, but a test of faith. The child will not remain in this form, for Lord Shiva will bestow His grace upon you. But first, I shall divide this flesh into one hundred and one pieces, as per the will of Lord Shiva. Each piece will transform into a child, each blessed with life and vitality."
At that time, Gandhari requested Vyasa Maharshi to grant her a daughter as well, for she longed to have a daughter to balance the future of her family. Vyasa Maharshi, understanding her wish, divided the lump of flesh into one hundred pieces to create her sons and one additional piece to bring forth a daughter. Thus, in this sacred act, Vyasa Maharshi created one hundred sons and one daughter, each destined for greatness.
As Vyasa Maharshi performed the sacred ritual, he carefully divided the lump of flesh into one hundred and one pieces, placing each into a jar. The process was long, but with every piece, the air grew filled with divine energy. Gandhari looked on in wonder as, over time, these pieces transformed into healthy children, each infused with life.
"This is the blessing of Lord Shiva, Gandhari," Vyasa said. "Your devotion has been rewarded. Though the path has been difficult, you now have sons, each with the potential to shape the future of this kingdom."
In the days that followed, Gandhari's heart began to heal, and the children grew strong, each with a unique destiny. The prophecy had been fulfilled, and Dhritarashtra, though unaware of the divine intervention, was grateful for the children that Gandhari had brought into the world.
** 1 Year Passed **
Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas, was born first, and from the very moment of his birth, nature itself seemed to proclaim that a dark force had entered the world. As he was born during an inauspicious time, a Dhurmuhurtham, the heavens themselves seemed to signal an omen. The sky darkened, and there was a sudden stillness in the air. The animals in the palace grounds cried out, and the earth trembled slightly. These signs were unmistakable, and many feared that the birth of Duryodhana would mark the beginning of a time of great turmoil.
Seeing these ominous signs, Vidura, the wise minister of Hastinapur, could not help but express his concern. He warned Dhritarashtra in a grave tone, "This child, born in such an ill-omened time, is no ordinary being. He will be the cause of great destruction to the Kuru dynasty, and his presence will bring misfortune to our house." However, Vidura, though deeply concerned, never recommended any drastic action or suggested harming the child. His warning was simply a caution, a recognition of the dark future that seemed to await the Kauravas due to Duryodhana's birth.
In the span of two years following Duryodhana's birth, Gandhari gave birth to her 99 other sons and 1 daughter.
Amidst these births, there was one son who stood apart from the rest. Yuyutsu, a lesser-known Kaurava, was born not to Gandhari, but to a maidservant in the palace. Unlike his brothers, Yuyutsu was different in both his origin and nature.
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Ages of kids
Karna (Vasusena) -------> 13 Years old
Yudhishthira -------------> 5 Years old
Bhima & Duryodhana ---> 4 Years old
Arjun (Incarnation of Lord Nara) --> 3 Years old
Nakula and Sahadev ------> New Born