The Birth of Duryodhana (Mahabharata Series 16)

The Birth of Duryodhana

As per Sage Vyasa’s instructions, the jars filled with ghee were preserved for two years. From the very first jar, the birth of Duryodhana took place. Yet, since Yudhishthira had already been born earlier to Kunti, Yudhishthira was recognized as the eldest among the princes.

News of the royal child’s birth reached Dhritarashtra and his family. All rejoiced and hurried to see the newborn. However, unlike ordinary infants who cry softly at birth, Duryodhana let out a harsh and ominous wail, resembling the bray of a donkey. At once, jackals howled, vultures and crows shrieked, donkeys brayed, whirlwinds blew, and sudden fires erupted in various places.

Startled by these ill-omens, King Dhritarashtra sought counsel from Bhishma, Vidura, and expert Brahmanas. Vidura and the learned Brahmanas spoke gravely: “O King! The dreadful omens at your son’s birth clearly show that he will bring destruction to your lineage. Only by abandoning this child can these portents be pacified. If you preserve him out of fatherly affection, he will become the ruin of your dynasty. Even if he is cast away, you will still have ninety-nine other sons. For the sake of the family’s welfare and for the good of the world, let this one be abandoned. It is said: For the sake of the family, one member may be sacrificed. For the sake of a village, a family may be given up. For the sake of a kingdom, a village may be forsaken. For the sake of the soul’s salvation, even the whole world may be renounced.”

But Dhritarashtra, blinded by attachment, could not part with his son. Thus, Duryodhana was preserved. Soon after, the other ninety-nine brothers were born from the jars, including Dushasana, Dussaha, Dushala, Jalashanda, Sama, Saha, Vinda, Anuvinda, Durdharsha, Subahu, Karna, Vikarna, and others. In this way, Dhritarashtra had one hundred sons. A month later, a beautiful daughter was also born, named Duhshala.

Meanwhile, from a Vaishya woman who had been serving Dhritarashtra during Gandhari’s pregnancy, a radiant son named Yuyutsu was also born.

Pandu and the Curse of Sage Kindama

In the forest, Pandu continued to live happily with Kunti and Madri. He delighted in hunting with his bow and arrows. One day, while wandering in the forest in search of prey, Pandu saw a pair of deer—a stag and a doe—absorbed in mating.

Eager for the hunt, Pandu failed to consider whether it was righteous to strike at such a moment. Drawing his golden-feathered arrows to full strength, he shot at the pair. To his shock, they were not ordinary deer. In reality, they were Sage Kindama and his wife, who had assumed deer-forms while engaged in union.

Pierced by Pandu’s arrows, the sage cried out in human voice and fell to the ground in agony. Hearing the cry, Pandu rushed forward, only to find the dying sage before him.

The sage rebuked Pandu: “O King! Though born in the noble lineage of the righteous, you have acted without discrimination, overcome by lust for the hunt. Even the most sinful do not commit such cruelty. Why have you slain me?”

Pandu defended himself: “Revered one, it is the kshatriya’s duty to destroy enemies and hunt animals. Hunting openly or from concealment is a warrior’s dharma. Do not reproach me unjustly.”

But Sage Kindama replied: “O King, you are mistaken! Even in war, one must not strike a helpless foe—one who is unarmed, unprepared, distracted, or surrendered. To kill such a defenseless being is never righteous. You have violated dharma.”

With this, the curse of Sage Kindama was about to fall upon Pandu, forever altering the destiny of the Kuru dynasty…