You will die at the very moment you unite with a loved one in desire.
→ ch. 109· sworn 2×
Pandu
descendant of the Kuru lineageyour father
Pivotal
Appears in 3 substories
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Oaths & Vows
You must, by my command, raise up offspring for me through a Brahmana superior to me in austerities.
I will give you a son who will be the best of all worlds and increase the fame of your family.
I will renounce my kingdom and all pleasures to live as a wandering ascetic, free as the wind.
I will not approach you with desire, for I am bound by the curse of the sage Kindama.
I command you, for the sake of my ancestors and my own salvation, to bear sons through ascetic Brahmanas.
I will live alone, subsist on alms, treat all creatures equally, and have no fixed abode.
Substory Timeline
Showing all 3 substories
Supporting
Yudhishthira asks about Harishchandra and his father PanduCh. 236
After hearing descriptions of the gods’ sabhas, Yudhishthira notices a singular detail: only one royal sage, Harishchandra, resides in Indra’s assembly. He asks Narada what deeds earned this honour, and inquires after his father Pandu.
Major
Narada recounts Harishchandra's deeds and advises YudhishthiraCh. 236
Narada explains why only the rajarshi Harishchandra earned a place in Indra’s sabha: he conquered the entire earth alone and performed a lavish royal sacrifice, giving to priests beyond all measure. He then delivers Pandu’s urgent message and a stark warning.
Minor
Kunti laments over her sons and they depart for the forestCh. 295
Following her weeping daughter-in-law, Kunti sees her sons for the last time before exile: shamed, dressed in deer skins, surrounded by enemies. She unleashes a torrent of grief, questioning fate, dharma, and her own choices, before they comfort her and walk into the forest.