The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section 125

Section CXXV. *( Sambhava Parva continued. )* Vaisampayana said, "Beholding his five handsome sons growing up before him in that great forest on the charming mountain slope, Pandu felt the lost might of his arms once more revive. One day in the season of spring which maddens every creature, the king, accompained by his wife (Madri), began to rove in the woods where every tree had put forth new blossoms. He beheld all around *Palashas* and *Tilakas* and *Mangoes* and *Champakas* and *Asokas* and *Kesharas* and *Atimuktas* and *Kuruvakas* with swarms of maddened bees sweetly humming about. And there were flowers of blossoming *Parijatas* with the *Kokila* pouring forth its melodies from under every twig and echoing with the sweet hum of the black bee. And he beheld also various other kinds of trees bent down with the weight of their flowers and fruits. And there were also many fine pieces of water overgrown with hundreds of fragrant lotuses. Beholding all this, Pandu felt the soft influence of desire. Roving like a celestial with a light heart amid such scenery, Pandu was alone with his wife Madri in semi-transparent attire. And beholding the youthful Madri thus attired, the king's desires flamed up like a forest-conflagration. And ill able to suppress his desires thus kindled at the sight of his wife of eyes like lotus leaves, he was completely overpowered by them. The king then seized her against her will; but Madri, trembling in fear, resisted him to the best of her might. Consumed by his desires, he forgot everything about his misfortune. And, O thou of the Kuru race, unrestrained by the fear of (the Rishi's) curse and impelled by fate, the monarch, overpowered by his passions, forcibly sought the embraces of Madri, as if to put an end to his own life. His reason, thus beguiled by the great destroyer himself, after intoxicating his senses, was itself lost with his life. And the Kuru king Pandu, of virtuous soul, thus succumbed to the inevitable influence of time, while united in intercourse with his wife. "Then Madri, clasping the body of her senseless lord, began to weep aloud. Then Kunti with her sons and the twins of Madri, hearing those cries of grief, came to the spot where the king lay in that state. Then, O king, Madri addressing Kunti in a piteous voice, said, 'Come hither alone, O Kunti, and let the children stay there!' Hearing these words, Kunti, bidding the children stay, ran with speed, exclaiming, 'Woe is me!' And beholding both Pandu and Madri lying prostrate on the ground, she wept in grief and affliction, saying, 'Of passions under complete control, this hero, O Madri, had all along been watched by me with care! How did he then, forgetting the Rishi's curse, approach thee with enkindled desire? O Madri, this foremost of men should have been protected by thee! Why didst thou then tempt him into solitude? Always melancholy at the thought of the Rishi's curse, how came he to be merry with thee in solitude? O princess of Valhika, more fortunate than myself, thou art really to be envied, for thou hast seen the face of our lord expand with gladness and joy!' "Madri then replied, saying, 'Revered sister, with tears in my eyes, I resisted the king, but he could not control himself, as if bent on making the Rishi's curse true!' "Kunti then said, 'I am the elder of his wedded wives: the chief religious merit must be mine. Therefore, O Madri, prevent me not from achieving that which must be achieved, I must follow our lord to the region of the dead! Rise up, O Madri, and yield me his body. Rear thou these children.' Madri replied, saying, 'I do clasp our lord yet, and have not allowed him to depart; therefore shall I follow him, My appetite hath not been appeased. Thou art my elder sister. O, let me have thy sanction! This foremost of the Bharata princes had approached me desiring to have intercourse. His appetite unsatiated, shall I not follow him to the region of Yama to gratify him? O revered one, if I survive thee, it is certain I shall not be able to rear thy children as if they were mine. Shall not sin touch me on that account? But thou, O Kunti, shalt be able to bring up my sons as if they were thine! The king in seeking me wishfully hath gone to the region of spirits; therefore should my body be burnt with his. O revered sister, refuse not thy sanction to this which is agreeable to me! Thou wilt certainly bring up the children carefully. That, indeed, would be very agreeable to me. I have no other direction to give.'" Vaisampayana continued, "Having said this, the daughter of the king of Madra—the wedded wife of Pandu—ascended the funeral pyre of her lord—that bull among men." Thus ends the hundred and twenty fifth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.