Story related to the birth of Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidur
Satyavati had two sons named Chitrangad and Vichitravirya. Shantanu passed away during the childhood of Chitrangad and Vichitravirya, hence they were brought up by Bhishma. When Chitrangad grew up, Bhishma placed him on the throne, but within a short time, Chitrangad was killed while fighting with the Gandharvas. On this Bhishma handed over the kingdom to his younger brother Vichitravirya. Now Bhishma was worried about Vichitravirya’s marriage. In those days, the swayamvara of Kashiraj’s three daughters, Amba, Ambika and Ambalika was about to take place. Going to his swayamvar, Bhishma single-handedly defeated all the kings present there and abducted the three girls and brought them to Hastinapura. The elder daughter Amba told Bhishma that she had offered her body and mind to Raj Shalva. After listening to her, Bhishma sent her to King Shalva and got Ambika and Ambalika married with Vichitravirya.
King Shalva did not accept Amba, so she returned to Hastinapur and said to Bhishma, “O Arya! You have kidnapped me, hence you marry me.” But Bhishma did not accept his request because of his vow. Amba became angry and went to Parashuram and narrated her plight to him and asked for help. Parashurama said to Amba, “O Goddess! Don’t worry, I will get you married to Bhishma.” Parashuram sent a call to Bhishma but Bhishma did not go to him. Angered by this, Parashuram approached Bhishma and a terrible war broke out between the two heroes. Both were phenomenal warriors, so victory or defeat could not be decided. Ultimately the gods intervened and stopped this war. Disappointed, Amba went to the forest to do penance.
Vichitravirya indulged in pleasures and pleasures with his two queens, but he did not have any children from either queen and he died after suffering from tuberculosis. Now fearing the complete destruction of the clan, Mother Satyavati one day said to Bhishma, “Son! To save this dynasty from destruction, I order you to give birth to a son from these two queens.” Hearing his mother’s words, Bhishma said, “Mother! I cannot break my promise under any circumstances.”
Mother Satyavati felt very sad after hearing this. Suddenly he remembered his son Vedvyas. As soon as he remembered, Ved Vyas was present there. Satyavati looked at him and said, “O son! All your brothers passed away childless. Therefore, to save my lineage from destruction, I order you to produce children from their wives.” Vedvyas obeyed her and said, “Mother! You tell those two queens to follow the rules and fast for one year only then they will conceive.” After one year had passed, Ved Vyas first went to the elder queen Ambika. Ambika closed her eyes fearing his brightness. Ved Vyas returned and said to his mother, “Mother Ambika will have a very bright son but he will be blind due to the defect of closing his eyes.” Satyavati was very sad to hear this and sent Ved Vyas to the younger queen Ambalika. Ambalika turned pale with fear after seeing Vedvyas. On returning from his room, Ved Vyas said to Satyavati, “Mother! From Ambalika’s womb, Pandu will have a son suffering from disease.” This made Mother Satyavati even more sad and she ordered the elder queen Ambalika to go to Vedvyas again. This time the elder queen did not go herself and sent her maid to Vedvyas. The maid happily offered the food to Ved Vyas. This time Ved Vyas came to Mother Satyavati and said, “Mother! From the womb of this maid, a very virtuous son will be born who is well versed in Vedas and Vedanta.” Saying this, Ved Vyas went to do penance.
When the time came, blind Dhritarashtra was born from Amba’s womb, Pandu was born from Ambalika’s womb suffering from disease and virtuous Vidur was born from the maid’s womb.
