Apasmāra

Seeing the princes enter adolescence, Bhishma began searching for a suitable teacher to tutor them in the science of warfare. One day, while the Kuru princes were playing with ball, it fell into the well. They gathered around the well to figure out a way to retrieve the ball. Drona who was on his way to meet kripa(brother-in-law), noticed the boys. Drona teased them by saying that it was shameful that the princes belonging to the Bhrata race could not retrieve the ball. He said that he would throw his ring also in the well and retrieve both the ball and the ring, using just a blade of grass, if only the princes could offer him a dinner that evening. Drona threw his ring into the dry well. He showed the princes the blades of grass he was carrying in his hand and told them that he would empower those grasses with his Mantras, make one blade of grass pierce the ball, create a chain using a few more blades and then pull up the ball. bring up the ball. He did exactly that....

After King Pandu's demise, the  sages consulting among themselves decided to take Kunti and the five sons of Pandu to Hastinapura and hand them over to Bhishma and Drhitarashtra, Accordingly, they left for Hastinapura taking Kunti, the Pandavas. Sages were not just interested in their own salvation, but in the protection and advancement of the people in general. Knowing Pandavas to be future Kings of the earth, the great sages made arrangements for them to be placed under proper guidance.   Shakuni perceived Pandavas as a challenge to his dear Duryodhan’s claim to the throne and since beginning Duryodhan has been set against them re-insisting it in Duryodhan’s mind if there’s was somebody who was the legitimate heir to the throne, it was he and not the five random kids from the jungle. The elders of the Kuru family and the subjects of Hastinapur welcomed the Pandavas with affection. Duryodhan, along with his 99 brothers, saw them as weeds ...

 As days passed after Kunti gave birth to Karna, time has arrived for Kunti to get married, her foster father, Kuntibhoja invited princes and kings from other kingdoms to be present for svayamvara (wedding) ceremony where she has to pick her husband. The budding youthful Kunti, upon entering the assembly hall, saw the handsome Pandu, broad-chested and endowed with unsuppressable prowess. He was like the moon amidst its many luminaries. Advancing with modesty, she placed the wedding garland around Pandu's neck, and thus she accepted the Kuru prince as her beloved husband. King Kuntibhoja arranged for the wedding functions and bestowed upon Pandu a large dowry. Afterwards, Pandu took his new wife back to Hastinapura and gave her the opulence she deserved. Sometime later, Bhishma set his heart upon getting Pandu married to a second wife as a result of an alliance to avoid war. Accompanied by his army, Bhishma went to the kingdom of Madra. taking along with him several sages, Brah...

Bhishma endorsed Satyavati’s proposal to beget a son through Sage Vyasa through the process of Niyoga . Since he knew Vyasa to be an ascetic of great virtues and immense power. Satyavati thought of Vyasa and Vyasa sensing her call appeared before her instantly. After receiving Vyasa with due respect and offering him food, Satyavati requested him to beget children upon the wives of Vichitravirya, his step brother. Vyasa agreed to this request since it was sanctioned by custom. He said that the women should first be purified by observing for one year the vow to be prescribed by him. Only after that he would give them children. Satyavati pleaded with him to do it immediately since the Kuru race had been without a heir for sometime. If conception must take place this month, Vyasa replied, then the queens of Kashi must be willing to bear my ugliness, strong odor and matted locks. If they can perform these austerities, then they will give birth to noble children. Let one of the queens...

After Amba left Hasthinapura in pursuit of vengeance against Bhishma,  back in the palace The marriage between Vichitravirya and the other two girls Ambika and Ambalika was performed.Vichitravirya lived a happy life in the company of his two wives for seven years. After this period, he was inflicted by a disease and he soon died. Satyavati was plunged into grief not only by the death of her two sons but also by the fact that the Kuru race was left with no heir, the only surviving prince Bhishma having renounced his right to become a king and Bahlika, elder brother of Santhanu unwilling to leave Bahlika Kingdom, thus there was a succession crisis in Hastinapur. Ambika and Ambalika were also greatly overwhelmed at the untimely death of their husband. Upon realizing a kingdom without a King would not prosper and the possible extinction of the dynasty, Satyavati approached Bhishma requesting him, The perpetuation of the Kuru dynasty now depends on you. The wives of your brother, Am...

 Devavratha(Bhishma) after reaching Hastinapura along with Satyavathi, Bhishma narrated the events to his father . Hearing this, King Shantanu was rendered speechless with his admiration for his son. He embraced his son and said, "O Bhishma, You have made such a great sacrifice for the sake of my happiness. As long as this world lasts, your fame shall remain undiminished. I grant you a boon that death shall not be able to approach you, till such a time that you yourself desire to die. Old age shall not slow your limbs, nor confuse your wits. You will be a matchless warrior all your life, watching over the welfare of the Kurus." In return, the King got his son's promise that as long as the Kurus were under a threat, Bhishma would not choose death. Prince Devavrata thus transformed himself into Bhishma, a man of sacrifice who would devote his entire life to safeguard the rulers of Hasthinapura. The marriage of Satyavati and Shantanu was duly celebrated. Two sons were ...

As Santhanu becoming listless day by day, Devavratha have been alarmed by these signs. The prince was very much troubled when he saw that some care was weighing heavily upon Shantanu's mind. Being the soul of tact, he did not want to ask his father directly. He was sure that his father would have confided in him, had confidence been possible. Instead, he questioned the charioteer and ministers of his father who accompanied to the places his father had visited recently. He at once perceived that among the places that his father had been recently, the only unusual place was that of the chief of the fishermen, Dhusharaj. He went there himself and upon beholding Satyavathi, immediately perceived that this maiden must be the cause of his father's listlessness. What he could not understand was that having fallen in love with this woman, why his father had not been able to take her as his wife. He met the Satyavathi's father and enquired as to why the marriage was ...

One day, as Shantanu was wandering along the bank of the Ganges, he came across a region frequently visited by Siddhas and Charanas . There he saw a lovely maiden of blazing beauty and decked with celestial ornaments, and attired in garments of fine texture that resembled in splendour the filaments of the lotus. With steadfast gaze he seemed to be drinking her charms, but repeated draughts failed to quench his thirst. Enchanted by her looks, he approached her and asked her who she was and asked her to marry him. She agreed but with one condition that Santanu would not ask any questions about her actions. Shantanu accepted her condition and married her, without knowing her identity. She conducted herself with dignity and the couple had a happy living. After sometime, a child was born to them. Immediately after giving birth to the child, Ganga carried the child to the Ganga and drowned it in the river. Though shocked by this cruel act, Shantanu had to restrain himself from qu...