Vyasa Impregnates Ambika, Resulting in Blind Dhritarashtra
Satyavati leads her daughter-in-law Ambika to bed, instructing her to wait for Vyasa to secure an heir. When the fierce-looking sage arrives, Ambika is so terrified she closes her eyes and cannot open them. Vyasa prophesies that her son will be mighty and wise, but blind.
When her daughter-in-law Ambika had purified herself after her bath, Satyavati led her to the bedchamber. She spoke softly: "O Kousalya! Your brother-in-law will come to you in the middle of the night. Wait for him. Do not fall asleep."
The beautiful queen lay on the bed and waited, thinking the visitor might be Bhishma or another chief of the Kuru lineage. The appointed one was the rishi Vyasa, Satyavati's son, devoted to truth. He entered while the lamps were still burning.
Ambika saw him: Krishna's dark visage, matted hair the colour of copper, fiery eyes, a tawny-brown beard. She closed her eyes in terror. To fulfill his mother's desire, Vyasa united with her. The daughter of the king of Kashi, paralyzed by fear, could not open her eyes again.
When he emerged, Satyavati asked her son, "Will she give birth to a son with all the qualities?"
Vyasa, supremely intelligent and self-controlled, replied as destiny dictated: "The son will have the strength of ten thousand elephants. He will be learned, a supreme rajarshi (royal sage). He will be immensely fortunate, brave, and wise. He will have one hundred powerful sons." Then he delivered the consequence: "But because of a lack of quality on the part of his mother, he will be blind."
Hearing this, Satyavati protested. "O one blessed with the power of austerities! How can a blind man be worthy to be king of the Kurus? How can he protect the lineage? Grant a second son to the Kuru lineage." Vyasa promised he would, and departed.
In due course, Kousalya — Ambika — gave birth to a son who was blind. He was named Dhritarashtra.