In a moment of deep remorse, Kunti confessed to her son, “In a previous birth, I failed to worship the Mother of the three worlds and did not meditate upon the blissful lotus feet of the auspicious Devi. Because of this, my son, I am always unfortunate. Now, abandoning you again in the forest, I must perform penance, remembering the sin I have knowingly committed.” With these sorrowful words, Kunti placed her infant son in a box and, anxious not to be seen by others, entrusted him to a nurse. Afterwards, Kunti, fearful and troubled, bathed and returned to her father’s house. The box she had sent away was discovered by Adhiratha, the charioteer. His wife, Radha, longed earnestly for a child, and thus the strong and heroic Karna was raised in the charioteer’s household. Later, Kunti, still a maiden, was wed to Pandu in her own svayaṃvara, and the auspicious Mādrī, daughter of the king of Madra, became Pandu’s other wife. Pandu, mighty and passionate about hunting, once slew a sage in the forest, mistaking him for a deer. The sage, enraged, cursed Pandu: “If you unite with a woman, surely death will come to you.” Stricken by the curse, Pandu abandoned his kingdom and withdrew to the forest, overwhelmed by sorrow. His wives, Kunti and Mādrī, accompanied him, intent on serving him and upholding the highest dharma, along with noble sages. They settled on the banks of the Ganga, residing in the hermitages of ascetics, listening to teachings about dharma and performing severe austerities. One day, during a discourse, Pandu heard a sage say, “For one without a son, there is no passage to heaven, O subduer of foes. By any means possible, one should ensure the birth of a son.” The sage explained that a son may be born in many ways: from a portion, to a maiden, as field-born, as a foundling, from a vessel, raised by the husband, born out of wedlock, purchased, found in the forest, given by someone unable to raise him, or as a receiver of wealth. Yet, each successive type of son is considered inferior to the previous. Hearing this, Pandu turned to Kunti, his lotus-eyed wife, and said, “Quickly produce a son by approaching a sage engaged in austerity. By my command, there is no fault in you. Formerly, as I have heard, Vasiṣṭha begot a son named Saudāsa upon the queen.” Kunti replied, “I possess a mantra that grants desires, given to me by Durvāsas. With this mantra, whichever god I invoke will certainly come to my side.” By her husband’s command and remembering the supreme dharma, Kunti invoked the gods and bore her first son, Yudhiṣṭhira. From Vāyu, she bore Vṛkodara (Bhima), and from Indra, Arjuna. Thus, year by year, three mighty sons were born to Kunti. Mādrī, longing for a child, appealed to Pandu, “Grant me a son, O noble one; what should I do, O great king? Remove my sorrow, lord.” Compassionately, Kunti gave Mādrī the mantra, and with her husband’s consent, Mādrī used it for a single invocation. Remembering the twin Ashvins, Nakula and Sahadeva were born to her. Thus, the five Pandavas, born of the gods and conceived in the field, were born year after year in that forest. One day, Pandu saw Mādrī alone in the hermitage and, overwhelmed by desire, seized her, unaware of the impending misfortune. Though she pleaded repeatedly, “No, no, no,” Pandu embraced her and, by fate, fell lifeless to the ground. Like a vine falling from a tree when its support is cut, Mādrī, still young, fell and wept bitterly. Kunti returned, weeping, with the children, and the great sages, hearing the commotion, came to the hermitage. Pandu had died. The sages, steadfast in their vows, performed the rites and cremated him on the bank of the Ganges. Mādrī resolved to depart with him, entrusting her two children to Kunti, upholding righteousness and the truthfulness of devoted wives. After performing water offerings and other rites, the resident sages accompanied Kunti and her five sons to Hastinapura. Upon hearing of their arrival, Bhishma, Vidura, and others went to the city of Dhritarashtra, and all assembled there. The people asked, “Whose sons are these, O beautiful one?” Knowing Pandu’s curse, Kunti was filled with sorrow. She replied, “These sons are born of the gods, descendants of the Kuru line.” To assure everyone, Kunti summoned all the gods, who appeared in the sky and declared, “These are indeed our sons.” Bhishma honored their words, and the sons of the gods were honored accordingly. Bhishma and others, joyful at heart, took the sons and their mother to Nagapura and cared for them with devotion. Thus, the Parthas were born and protected by Bhishma, son of Ganga. Now, the tale of the Pandavas continues, and the description of those who departed is given. Draupadi, wife of the five Pandavas, was honored and devoted to her husbands; she bore five exceedingly handsome sons by them. Arjuna’s wife was Krishna’s noble sister, Subhadra, whom Jishnu (Arjuna) had taken, esteemed by Hari. From her was born the great hero Abhimanyu, who was slain on the battlefield; there, too, Draupadi’s sons met their end.