01.107
Pancharatra:Hundred sons of Dhritarastra.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then, O Janamejaya, a hundred sons were born to Gāndhārī, and one more, beyond the hundred, was born to Dhṛtarāṣṭra from a vaiśya woman.
From Kuntī and Mādrī, five great warrior sons of Pāṇḍu were born from the gods for the continuation of the lineage.
Janamejaya said:
O best of Brāhmaṇas, how were a hundred sons born from Gāndhārī, and within what time? What was the extent of their lives?
How was one son born to Dhṛtarāṣṭra in a vaiśya woman? And how did Dhṛtarāṣṭra neglect his virtuous and suitable wife Gāndhārī, though she was living in harmony?
How were five great warrior sons born from the gods to Pāṇḍu, though he had been cursed by that great soul?
O ascetic, please tell me in detail how this happened. I am not satisfied when hearing about the kinsmen.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Gāndhārī pleased Vyāsa, who had come exhausted from hunger and fatigue; he gave her a boon.
She chose to have a hundred sons of her own, equal to her husband. Then in due time, she conceived from Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
Gāndhārī bore that pregnancy for two years without giving birth, and then sorrow entered her.
Having heard that Kuntī's son was born with brilliance like the rising sun, she reflected, realizing the firmness of her own womb.
Unknown to Dhṛtarāṣṭra and with great effort, Gāndhārī, overcome by sorrow, aborted the fetus.
Then was born a compact lump of flesh, like an iron ball, formed in the womb for two years, which she began to cast away.
Then Vyāsa, having known, quickly approached and saw that lump of flesh — the best among those who chant.
Then he said to the daughter of Subala, “What is this you intended?” And she truthfully told her intent to the great sage.
Having heard that the eldest son of Kuntī was born with the brilliance of the sun, I cast down this womb in great sorrow.
You had once granted me a hundred sons, and this lump of flesh has appeared for that very purpose.
Vyāsa said:
Thus it is, O daughter of Subala; this will never be otherwise. What I have spoken before is never untrue, even in trifles — how then otherwise?
Let a hundred jars filled with ghee be quickly prepared, and sprinkle this lump with cold water.
Vaiśampāyana said:
Then the lump, being sprinkled, divided into a hundred parts, each an embryo of thumb-joint size, and distinct.
O king, from the lump of flesh there emerged, with time and in due order, a full hundred and one embryos.
Then he placed those embryos in the jars and stationed them in well-guarded places, and established protection thereafter.
And after some time, the venerable sage instructed the daughter of Subala that these jars should now be opened.
Having said thus and made arrangements, the wise Vyāsa went for penance to the mountain peaks of the Himalaya.
In due order, Duryodhana was born among them as a prince, but by birth measure, Yudhiṣṭhira was the elder king.
When that son was just born, Dhṛtarāṣṭra spoke this, having gathered many Brāhmaṇas, Bhīṣma, and Vidura as well.
Yudhiṣṭhira, the royal son and eldest, has by his own virtue attained the kingdom; there is nothing to be said against him by us.
This one, however, will become king next after him. Tell me the truth of what will certainly happen here.
O Bhārata, at the end of this speech, from all directions came terrible flesh-eaters breathing hard, some auspicious, and others proclaiming doom.
Having observed all those terrible omens, the Brāhmaṇas and the wise Vidura said this, O king.
This son of yours will clearly bring about the end of the lineage. Your peace lies in his removal and renunciation, but if fostered it will bring great trouble.
Let there be ninety-nine sons, O king. With one, bring welfare to the world and the family.
One should abandon an individual for the family's sake, a family for the village, a village for the kingdom, and the earth for the sake of the one-self.
Though so instructed by Vidura and all the foremost Brāhmaṇas, the king did not act accordingly, being bound by affection for his son.
Then, O king, all hundred sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra were born within a month, and one daughter beyond the hundred.
While Gāndhārī was suffering from her growing womb, the mighty-armed Dhṛtarāṣṭra was served by a vaiśya woman.
In that same year, O king, from Dhṛtarāṣṭra was born the renowned and wise Yuyutsu from that woman.
Thus a hundred sons, great warrior heroes, were born to the wise Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and one daughter named Duḥśalā.
