Duryodhana

3

Shakuni had henceforth dedicated his life from the onwards to ruining the Kuru clan. And boy, did he do it.

But for now, lets get back to Gandhari. She had just agreed to marry Dhritarashtra. She was a very sympathetic and kind-hearted girl. And she couldn't stop thinking that it wasn't fair that her soon-to-be husband was blind and couldn't see her. She wanted to share some of her husband's pain, to show that she valued him and respected him.

So she made a decision that crippled her life forever. The night before her wedding day, she tied a blindfold over her eyes, never to be removed as long as she was alive. She, this girl, who was scared of darkness, she, who needed a plethora of candles in her room to block out the fear, she, who was afraid to even sleep without someone next to her, covered her eyes forever. This just goes to show how deep her determination and courage truly was. 

But nobody saw that sacrifice. They thought that she had made that decision to mock the royal family and the eldest prince. What fools they were. The decision that should have been respected and admired was scorned and frowned upon. Many mocked Hastinapur, saying, Oh, look, the soon to be king and queen are blind, how will this kingdom ever flourish?

Enemies of Hastinapur sat back in ease, as if this was no more a threat. Everyone blamed it on Gandhari. No one looked at her side of the story. I can only imagine the pain and loneliness she must have faced. Why couldn't they understand her sacrifice? And why can't some of us still understand?

From their marriage day onward, when Dhritarashtra found out about his soon-to-be-wife's decision, his respect for her completely ceased. He never loved her from that point onward. He didn't respect her or anything. He did get better after their sons were born, but... that kind of resentment never fades. 

He made one of his worst decisions afterward... but more on that later.

Satyavati and Bhishma had decided to crown his younger brother, Pandu, as King. Now, that couldn't have felt too good, but Dhritarashtra still shouldn't have felt insane amounts of jealousy and rage toward his brother. He still loved him, but that resentment was always there, throughout his whole life. 

Even when Pandu had married Princess of Kunthibhoj, Kunti, he didn't allow himself or Gandhari to greet them and welcome them. 

Gandhari knew she couldn't demean her brother-in-law like that by not accepting their marriage. So she welcomed them with an aarti pooja, even though she knew her husband would spite her even more. 

Sometimes, she just amazes me. Does she have that same effect on you?

Kunti became like a sister to her, and they were very close. Though sometimes she thought that Kunti was a bit off.

But, urgent news came, and Pandu had to depart to the kingdom of Madra the day of their marriage. Pandu and Kunti did not have their first night. 

Some time later, Pandu returned. But with another wife. The fairest maiden in the land, so stunningly beautiful, the princess of Madra, Madri. Kunti was sad, obviously. They hadn't had their first night, and her husband had brought another woman back. Pandu had married Madri to establish relations, but it is said that he always loved Madri more. Maybe because of that Kunti had resented Madri a little bit. Kunti always had a jealous nature.

One day all three went hunting in the woods. Madri wanted Pandu to the get the skin of a beautiful deer they found so that she could put it on her throne. Pandu obeyed his wife's request, but when he shot it, he found that the deer was actually a couple - a rishi and his wife. They were mating and Pandu had killed them. And naturally, the rishi cursed Pandu that he would die if he tried to mate with his wives. 

Hearing this, his heart got heavy. He would never get an heir to the throne. So he resigned the throne and gave it to his older brother. Then he went for vanvaas, or simple life, with his wives. 

One day Kunti told him about the boon she was gifted - the mantra that would allow her to get a son from any god she wished, except from the Tridevs, of course. Pandu got excited. He could continue his line, and his sons would be the blessing of the Devtas!

Before Kunti had a chance to explain something even more important, Pandu immediately told her he wanted a son from the Yama Dharmaraja, or the Lord of the Dead. He said that his son would be righteous, would never tell a lie, and would always prosper. We all know how THAT worked out. 

And so Yudhistir was born. And in the same way, the other Pandavas were born, Arjun from Indra and Bheem from Pavan Dev to Kunti, and Nakul and Sahadev of the Ashwini twins to Madri. 

But forget about them for now. Let's look at our dear boy Dury's birth...

And what did Lord Sri Krishna have to say about it?