Chapter 13 - Origin of the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Agni said:

1. I shall narrate the (story of) Bhārata (which has) the description of the greatness of Kṛṣṇa. Viṣṇu removed heavy oppression on the earth having Pāṇḍavas as the instrumental cause.

2. Brahmā was born of the lotus in the navel of Viṣṇu. (Sage) Atri was the son of Brahmā. From Atri was born Soma. From Soma, Budha was born. From him (Budha) was born Aila—Purūravas.

3-4. Āyu (was born) from him. King Nahuṣa was then (born). Then Yayāti, then Puru (were born successsively). In his race (was born) Bharata. Then king Kuru (was born). In that race (was born) Śantanu. From him (was born) Bhīṣma (as) the son of the Ganges. (His) brothers Citriiṅgada and Vicitra (vīrya) were born to Śantanu through Satyavatī.

5-8. After Śantanu’s death, Bhīṣma who had no wife, (governed and) protected his brother’s kingdom. The young Citrāṅgada was killed by the Gandharva Citrāṅgada. The two daughters of Kāśirāja, Ambikā and Ambālikā brought (as captives) by Bhīṣma, the conqueror of the foes, (became) the wives of Vicitravīrya, He (Vicitravīrya) died on account of consumption. With the consent of Satyavatī, from Vyāsa, King Dhṛtarāṣṭra was (born) through Ambikā and Pāṇḍu through Ambālikā as sons. From Dhṛtarāṣṭra through Gāndhārī hundred sons (were born) with Duryodhana as the first.

9. By the curse of a sage^[1] then he (Pāṇḍu) died on account of union with his wife at the hermitage of Śataśṛṅga, then Yudhiṣṭhira (was born) to Pāṇḍu through Kuntī from Dharma (Yama).

10. (Similarly) Bhīma from Vāta (God of wind), Arjuna from Śakra (were born) and through Mādri, Nakula and Sahadeva from the Aśvini kumāra. Pāṇḍu died when (he was) in union with Mādrī.³⁷

11. Karṇa, born to Kuntī, when she was a virgin, became a dependent of Duryodhana. By destiny there was enmity between the Kurus (Kauravas) and Pāṇḍavas.

12. The wicked Duryodhana burnt the Pāṇḍavas in the lac house. The Pāṇḍavas escaped from the burnt house along with their mother as the sixth.

13. Then at (the place) Ekacakrā, in the house of a brahmin, they all remained in the attire of an ascetic after killing the demon Baka.^[2]

14. They went to the fair at Pāñcāla and in the svayamvara (self-choice) of Draupadī. The well adorned Draupadī was obtained by the five Pāṇḍavas.

15. Then (they) were known to have got half of the kingdom by Duryodhana and others. The divine bow Gāṇḍīva and the excellent chariot were obtained from the Fire god.

16. And in the battle, Arjuna got Kṛṣṇa as the charioteer and inexhaustible arrows and similarly the missiles (known as) Brahmā and other weapons (were obtained) from Droṇa. All were proficient in (the use of) arms.

17-18. (Acting on the words of) Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna put out the fire at the Khāṇḍava forest. And the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) having obstructed rains (caused by Indra) with the shower of arrows, conquered the countries in different) directions. Yudhiṣṭhira ruled the country along with the (other) Pāṇḍavas. (He performed) the Rājasūya (sacrifice) (spending) plenty of gold. Suyodhana (Duryodhana) could not bear that.

19-20. Being directed by brother Duḥśāsana and by Karṇa who had been enriched by him, he won over Yudhiṣṭhira in dice, (being assisted) by Śakuni in playing the dice. His kingdom was also won by conceit. Those in the court laughed at him. Yudhiṣṭhira being won, went to the forest along with the brothers.

21-24. He spent twelve years in the forest as promised (by him) along with (the sage) Dhaumya and Draupadī as the sixth, feeding 88000 twice-borns as before. Then (he) went to the King of Virāṭa, with the other names, the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) unrecognised as the brahmin Kaṅka, Bhīma as the cook, Arjuna as Bṛhannalā, (their) wife (Draupadī) as Sairandhri and the twins. And Bhīmasena killed Kīcaka^[3] in the night as he was desirous of winning over Draupadī. And Arjuna conquered the Kurus, who were engaged in seizing and lifting the cows. (Hence) they were recognised as Pāṇḍavas (by the Kurus).

25-28. (Then) Subhadrā, the sister of Kṛṣṇa, gave birth to ABhīmanyu, from Arjuna. And (King) Virāṭa gave his daughter Uttarā to him. Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira), the master of seven akṣauhiṇī^[4], was (ready) for the war. That Kṛṣṇa, the messenger, having gone to the intolerant Duryodhana said to that lord of eleven akṣauhiṇī, “Give half the kingdom or five villages to Yudhiṣṭhira. Or else (you) fight (with him).” Hearing (these) words, Suyodhana (Duryodhana) said to Kṛṣṇa, “I will not give land (even of the size) of a needle tip. I will fight engaged in seizing it.”

Agni said:

29. Having shown the invincible omnipresent form (and) being honoured by Vidura, (Kṛṣṇa) returned to Yudhiṣṭhira and said to Yudhiṣṭhira, “Fight with this Suyodhana (Duryodhana).”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The sage Kindama, who was sporting with his wife, both assuming the form of a deer, was hit along with his wife by the arrows of Pāṇḍu, who had gone there for hunting. The sage cursed Pāṇḍu that he would also die while copulating with his wife. See M. Bh. I. cxvii. 5-31.

[2]:

Baka was a demon living in the city Ekacakrā. Under an agreement the residents were supplying his daily food consisting of a buffalo, a man etc. from each family in turn. When the five Pāṇḍavas were staying in that place disguised as ascetics, Bhīma killed the demon to relieve a poor brahmin resident, who was lamenting his fate as it was his turn that day. M. Bh. I. clxvi ff.

[3]:

Kīcaka was the commander-in-chief and brother-in-law of King of Virāṭa. M. Bh.-Nam. pp. 68-69

[4]:

The army consisted of 21,870 chariots, as many elephants, 65,610 horses and 109,350 foot-soldiers. Apte SD.