Pandu's Marriages and Military Conquests
Pandu, a Kuru prince, secures two powerful marriages—to Kunti and Madri—and then turns his ambition outward. He launches a military campaign across the eastern kingdoms, crushing proud kings, seizing their wealth, and forcing them to acknowledge Kuru supremacy. He returns to a hero's welcome, his chariots groaning with tribute, having revived the faded glory of his lineage.
Pandu, the son of Shantanu, came of age. He was handsome, with a chest like a lion, shoulders like an elephant, and eyes like a bull. His strength, courage, and enterprise were evident to all. It was time for him to marry and to make his own mark on the world.
His first marriage was to Kunti, the daughter of King Kuntibhoja. She was beautiful, devoted to dharma (righteousness), and possessed every good quality. Her father arranged a svayamvara (a ceremony where a princess chooses her husband from assembled suitors). Among thousands of powerful kings, Kunti chose Pandu. They were married, their union likened to that of the god Indra (Maghavan) and his consort Poulomi.
Thereafter, with his grand-uncle Bhishma, Pandu traveled to the capital of the Madra kingdom. There lived Madri, the daughter of the Madra king, whose beauty was famous across the three worlds and unmatched on earth. For Pandu’s sake, Bhishma bought her with a great deal of riches and arranged the marriage. The people of the world were astonished to see Pandu, now wed to two extraordinary women.
With his personal life settled, Pandu turned his ambition outward. He decided to conquer the earth and vanquish many enemies. He gathered an army with many flags flying, elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, and marched east.
First, he defeated the Dasharnas in battle, spreading the fame of the Kouravas. Then he attacked Darva, the proud king of Magadha, who had made enemies of all other kings. Pandu killed Darva in his own capital of Rajagriha and seized his treasury, transport, and armies. He marched on to Mithila and conquered Videha in battle. The fame of the Kurus spread further—to Kashi, Suhma, and Pundra.
Pandu, the scorcher of foes, was like a great fire. He burnt kings with the great net of his flaming arrows and his dazzling weapons, defeating them and their armies. After conquering them, he did not merely plunder and leave; he engaged them in the work of the Kurus, binding them to his authority. Having been vanquished, all the kings of the earth recognized him as the only warrior on earth, like Indra (Purandara) among the gods.
They came to him with joined hands in worship, bringing gems and riches of every kind: precious stones, pearls, coral, vast quantities of gold and silver, the finest cows, horses, chariots, elephants, donkeys, camels, buffaloes, goats, and sheep. Pandu, the king of Nagapura (Hastinapura), accepted it all.
Then, to the delight of his own kingdom, he turned his army homeward, returning to Gajasahrya (another name for Hastinapura) with his laden vehicles. As he approached, the people spoke amongst themselves: “The fame of Shantanu, lion among kings, and of the intelligent Bharata had been destroyed. But those cries and deeds have now been revived by Pandu. Those who had earlier robbed the land of the Kurus and the riches of the Kurus have now been forced to pay tribute by Pandu, the lion of Nagapura.”
With happiness and confidence in their hearts, the kings, their advisers, and the citizens of town and country went out to receive him, with Bhishma at their head. Before they had gone far, the residents of Nagapura saw a world of plunder coming toward them: myriad captives, gems piled high on countless vehicles, elephants, horses, chariots, cows, camels, and sheep. Following Bhishma, the Kouravas saw it all and could find no end to it.
Pandu, who had increased the joy of Kousalya (his mother), paid homage at his father’s feet. He showed his respects to the citizens. Bhishma shed tears of joy, now reunited with his son who had successfully returned after subjugating other kingdoms. A great roar of hundreds of trumpets and drums filled the air. As Pandu entered Gajasahrya, he made the citizens everywhere very happy.