DEATH OF PANDU

In spite of Madri’s earnest and repeated protests Pandu’s resolution broke down under the exhilarating influence of the season, and at once the curse of the sage took effect. and Pandu fell, dead.

Madri could not contain her sorrow. Since she felt that she was responsible for the death of the king. she burnt herself on the pyre of her husband entreating Kunti to remain and be a mother to her doubly orphaned children.

The sages of the forest took the bereaved and grief-stricken Kunti and the Pandavas to Hastinapura and entrusted them to Bhishma.

Yudhishthira was but sixteen years old at that time. When the sages came to Hastinapura and reported the death of Pandu in the forest, the whole kingdom was plunged in sorrow. Vidura, Bhishma, Vyasa, Dhritarashtra and others performed the funeral rites.

All the people in the kingdom lamented as at a personal loss.Vyasa said to Satyavati, the grandmother: "The past has gone by pleasantly, but the future has manysorrows in store. The world has passed its youth like a happy dream and it is now entering on disillusionment, sin, sorrow and suffering. Time is inexorable.

You need not wait to see the miseries and misfortunes which ‘Will befall this race. It will be good for you to leave the city and spend the rest of your days in a hermitage in the forest.;’ Satyavati agreed and went to the forest with Ambika and Ambalika. These three aged queens passed through holy asceticism to the higher regions of bliss and spared them selves the sorrows of their children.

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