Bhishma, wishing to please his beloved father Shantanu, brought Satyavati—also known as Kali—to be his mother. Before her marriage to Shantanu, Satyavati had borne a son, Dvaipayana, through the sage Parashara. Later, with Shantanu, she had two sons: Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada, the elder, became king but was soon slain by a mighty Gandharva. Upon his death, Vichitravirya ascended the throne. In time, Vichitravirya married the two daughters of the king of Kashi, Ambika and Ambalika. However, fate was unkind; Vichitravirya died before he could father any children. Satyavati, now deeply troubled, feared that Shantanu’s noble lineage would end. Seeking a solution, she remembered her firstborn, Dvaipayana. When she called upon him, Dvaipayana appeared and asked what she desired. Satyavati entreated him to continue his brother’s line by begetting children on Ambika and Ambalika. Dvaipayana agreed, and thus were born three sons: Dhritarashtra, Pandu, and Vidura. Dhritarashtra, through his wife Gandhari and a boon from Dvaipayana, became the father of a hundred sons. Among these, four were most prominent: Duryodhana, Dushasana, Vikarna, and Chitrasena. Pandu, meanwhile, took two wives: Kunti and Madri. One day, while hunting, Pandu unknowingly shot a sage who, transformed into a deer, was engaged in union. As the wounded sage lay dying, he pronounced a curse: “O cruel one, since you have slain me before I fulfilled my purpose, you too will meet a similar fate should you approach your wives.” Stricken by this curse, Pandu resolved to abstain from his wives, fearing for his life. Yet, in his sorrow, he lamented, “By my own recklessness I have come to this. I have heard in ancient tales that those without children have no place in the worlds to come.” Wishing to preserve his lineage, he asked Kunti to beget sons for him. Kunti, blessed with a divine boon, bore three sons: from Dharma, Yudhishthira; from Vayu, Bhimasena; and from Indra, Arjuna. Pleased, Pandu requested that Madri, too, have children. Kunti graciously shared her secret with Madri, who invoked the Ashvins and bore Nakula and Sahadeva. But destiny could not be averted. One day, Pandu was overcome with desire for Madri and, forgetting the curse, approached her. He died instantly. Madri, overwhelmed with grief, chose to join her husband on the funeral pyre. Before departing, she entrusted Kunti with the care of their sons, urging her to protect them as a noble mother. After these tragic events, ascetics brought the five Pandavas and Kunti to Hastinapura. There, they informed Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura of Pandu’s passing. But danger lurked: Duryodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, plotted to destroy the Pandavas and Kunti by burning them in a house of lac. Vidura, ever wise and loyal, saved them from this fate. Later, Bhima slew the rakshasa Hidimba and fathered a son, Ghatotkaca, with Hidimba’s sister, Hidimbi. The Pandavas then journeyed safely to Ekachakra, and from there to the land of the Panchalas. At Draupadi’s svayamvara, they won her hand, gained half the kingdom, and settled in Indraprastha, where they had sons with Draupadi. Of Draupadi’s sons, Srutasena and Sahadeva were named. Yudhishthira married Devaki, daughter of Shaivya, and begot a son named Yaudheya. Bhimasena wed Jalandhara, princess of Kashi, at her svayamvara in Varanasi, and had a son named Sarvatrata. Arjuna journeyed to Dvaravati, married Subhadra, the sister of the blessed Vasudeva, and begot Abhimanyu. Nakulā married Renumati of the Cedis and had a son, Niramitra. Sahadeva, at his own svayamvara, married Vijayā, Madri’s daughter, and begot Suhotra. Bhima had already fathered Ghatotkaca with the rakshasi Hidimba, while Arjuna begot Iravat with Ulupi, the serpent maiden. Arjuna also fathered Babhruvahana with Chitrangada, daughter of the lord of Manalura. Thus, the Pandavas had thirteen sons. Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna and Subhadra, married Uttara, daughter of King Virata. In her womb was conceived a posthumous son. Kunti, by the command of the elders, took this unborn child onto her lap. Vasudeva declared, “I will sustain this six-month-old fetus by the touch of my foot. I will give life to this boy of boundless energy; he is born even now. By the truth of Abhimanyu, let this earth be upheld.” At Vasudeva’s divine touch, the child was born alive, and Subhadra gave him his name. Thus, when the lineage seemed lost, the illustrious Parikshit was born to Uttara and Abhimanyu. Parikshit married Bhadravati, and from their union was born Janamejaya. Janamejaya had two radiant sons: Shatanika and Shankukarna. Shatanika married a princess of Videha, and their son was Ashvamedhadatta. Thus has the lineage of Puru and the Pandavas been recounted. Whoever hears this sacred genealogy of Puru is freed from all sins. Now, there was a king named Uparichara, ever steadfast in righteousness, who delighted in hunting, was constant in study, and pure in conduct.