In the previous episode, we were at an important juncture wherein King Vichitraveerya passed away without leaving behind a legal heir to take over the kingdom. Concerned by this, Satyavati was longing for someone to help the kingdom out of this precarious situation. Someone has to emerge to lead the kingdom isn’t it? A kingdom cannot survive successfully without a king. Hence, Satyavati was in deep thoughts as to what to do regarding this. After a while of thinking about various options, she remembered her son Sage Vyaasa. He had given her an assurance that whenever she required any help, he would come and help her out in whatever way possible. Thus, Satyavati prayed and called out for Sage Veda-Vyaasa and with this, Sage Vyaasa appeared in front of her immediately. As Satyavati explained the situation to him, Sage Vyaasa accepted to help her, but under one important condition – Both Ambika and Ambaalika should not get perturbed or uneasy with his physical form. Sage Vyaasa was very clear that he would not freshen up himself just for these two ladies. He would be as he is, and it is upto Ambika and Ambaalika to take it forward.
Satyavati accepted to this condition and the agenda was set – Both Ambika and Ambaalika were to meet Sage Veda-Vyaasa that night. As the night falls by, both Ambika and Ambaalika go to meet Sage Vyaasa to obtain his divine “Anugraha” for bearing children. Ambika goes to meet him first. However, the moment Ambika saw Sage Vyaasa in an uncharacteristic form, full of dirt and with a nasty smell coming from his body, she couldn’t bear it and closed her eyes instinctively! However, Sage Vyaasa’s stance never changed and he remained as he was. Thus, since Ambika closed her eyes while Sage Vyaasa blessed her, she ended up bearing a child who was blind! Later on, Sage Vyaasa explains to Satyavati thus, “Oh Mother! I extended my divine “Anugraha” to Ambika only because you asked for it. The child that would be born to Ambika would be blind. However, the child would be extremely powerful, equivalent of the strength of around 10,000 elephants!” This blind but powerful child was none other than Dhirdiraashtra! Thus, as we know already, Dhirdiraashtra was born blind, however, he was a very powerful person by birth itself.
Now that we’ve witnessed what happened to Ambika, we’ll witness what happened to Ambaalika. After Ambika came out, it was the turn of Ambaalika to make her way to meet Sage Vyaasa. As Ambaalika saw Sage Vyaasa’s “ugly” form, she got extremely scared! By nature itself, Ambaalika was a seemingly scared woman and the form of Sage Vyaasa made her even more scared! With this, she started trembling with fear and her body entered into a feverish state. Ambaalika did not expect such an ugly-looking person to be in front of her. However, since Ambaalika had come in front of Sage Vyaasa, she was blessed with a child. But just like his mother’s characteristics, this child also was born with a feverish state and with a kind of “fits”, wherein his body was trembling all the time. This child was none other than Paandu. The word “Paandu” means “white”. This is because, he was born white in colour with fits. However, having said thus, Paandu was also a powerful child with enormous strength.
Thus the two children were born – Dhirdiraashtra and Paandu. Even though the kingdom was secured with the next generation to rule it, Satyavati was concerned – Both the children had physical ailments, isn’t it? Dhirdiraashtra was blind and Paandu had fits. Now Satyavati was puzzled as to how to resolve this issue. A king should be physically fit, isn’t it? This is the basic qualification to be a king. Thinking thus, Satyavati went back to Sage Veda-Vyaasa to seek for a solution. Sage Vyaasa too accepted Satyavati’s request and asked both Ambika and Ambaalika to meet him again. Now what is going to happen next? Are Dhidiraashtra and Paandu going to see some light at the end of the tunnel? What was Ambika going to do? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 