Pandu Succumbs to Desire and Dies from the Sage's Curse
During the spring season, Pandu roams a blooming forest with his wife Madri. Overcome by desire at the sight of her, he forgets a sage's fatal curse and seizes her. The curse is instantly fulfilled, leaving his wives and young sons alone in the wilderness.
Pandu lived in exile in the great forest, watching his five sons grow up strong and handsome under his protection. One day, the season of spring arrived. The forest was in full bloom — palasha, tilaka, mango, champaka, and paribhadraka trees laden with flowers and fruit. The ponds were beautiful with lotuses. Every being seemed drunk and maddened by the season's energy.
The king wandered through this beauty with his wives, his heart turning to thoughts of love. He moved like a god, happy and unburdened. Madri followed him, clad in a beautiful, semi-transparent garment. Through that garment, Pandu saw her youth. Desire stirred in him like a dense forest fire.
He stared at her, at her eyes like blue lotuses. He could not control it. Desire overpowered him completely.
In that private place, the king forcibly seized her. The queen struggled and resisted with all her strength. But his heart was taken over. He did not remember the curse — the terrible pronouncement from the sage Kindama that should Pandu ever unite with a woman in passion, he would die instantly.
Following the dharma of intercourse, he forcibly entered Madri. Under the control of love, the descendant of the Kuru lineage acted so as to end his own life. He had no fear. With desire in his heart, his intelligence was deluded by destiny itself. Since he was prey to his senses, his consciousness was destroyed.
Pandu, supremely devoted to dharma, succumbed to the law of time when united with his wife.