Amazing Mythgological Story of the Birth of Kauravas

According to most famous Hindu epic Mahabharata, Devavrata, the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu. One day Shantanu, the Kuru king of Hastinapur, came to the forest on a hunting trip and saw Satyavati. He was mesmerized by her beauty; fell in love, at first sight. Shantanu reached a Satyavati's house. The king asked the fisherman chief for his daughter's hand; the fisherman Dusharaj said his daughter would marry the king if and only if her daughter’s sons would inherit the throne.

The king felt shocked and dejected. He returned to the palace since he had already his son, Devavrata, as heir apparent to the throne of Hasitinapura. Devavrata was distressed by his father's condition; he learned about the promise asked by the fisherman chief from a minister. Immediately, Devavrata rushed to the hut of the fisherman chief and begged for Satyvati's hand on his father's behalf. The fisherman repeated his condition.

He had sworn that he would not be king of Hastinapur, but he would serve as the ruling Kuru king.  Due to Devavrata’s promise, he was given the name Bhishma.

Satyavati gave birth to the two sons of Shantanu: Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Bhishma crowned Chitrangada as the king under Satyavati's command. Chitrangada was later killed by a namesake Gandharva (a celestial musician).

After Chitrangada's death, his young brother Vichitravirya was crowned king, while Bhishma ruled on his behalf (under Satyavati's command) until Vichitravirya grew up.

Vichitravirya married the princesses of Kashi-Kosala: Ambika and Ambalika, who were won by Bhishma in a Swayamvara (marriage choice). The childless Vichitravirya met with an untimely death from tuberculosis.

Satyavati asked Bhishma to marry Ambika and Ambalika. He said that he remembered that vouched of bachelorhood. Satyavati then asked Sage Vyas to help her. Vyasa agreed to visit Hastinapura Palace.

Satyavati informed Ambika of Vyasa's visit and advised her that she should welcome the sage accordingly for the purpose of obtaining an heir to the throne of Hastinapura. Ambika accepted and was willing to comply with the instructions she received.

Later that night, Vyasa entered the chambers of Ambika. She became terrified at the sight of the sage. Using his Yogmaya or his illusionary powers to impregnate her, she closed her eyes in fright. She kept her eyes closed for the entire duration of the encounter.

When Satyavati asked Vyasa next morning how things went, he said to her that a very strong and learned son would be born to Ambika. However, because she closed her eyes at the time of her conception, the child would be born blind.

This was very disappointing news for Satyavati and so she now instructed Vyasa to impregnate Vichitravirya's second wife, Ambalika. Satyavati advised Ambalika not to close her eyes and she did not. However, at the sight of Vyasa, she became pale.

When Vyasa was done, he reported back to his mother and told her that Ambalika would have a son who would be handsome and brave, but because she became pale at the time of impregnation her son would also be pale.

Satyavati was still disappointed and told Vyasa that after Ambika gives birth to the child that he should return and impregnate her once more so that she will also have a son with eyesight. Vyasa agreed and then left for the forest.

In time both queens Ambika and Ambalika gave birth to their sons and as Vyasa had said, one was blind and the other was pale. The blind son was named Dhritarashtra and the pale one was named Pandu.

Then Satyavati again sent for Vyasa and she warned Ambika to be careful this time. She reminded her that her son was born blind because of her mistake. Ambika was willing once more and accepted the advice. However, as she tried, she could not have the courage and the bravery to face Vyasa. So she sent her maidservant instead.

The maid served the sage with attention and devotion. The next morning Vyasa told Satyavati that a son who would be the replica of the Dharma would be born, but he will be born to the maid because it was she who spent the time with him. He then gave blessings to all and departed once again.

The son born to the maid was named Vidura. All three boys received education under the guidance of Bhishma. Dhritarashtra was strong, Pandu was good at archery, and Vidura was wise. Pandu was appointed as the ruler even though Dhritarashtra was elder. This was so because the Shastras (Hindu’s revered scriptures) forbids the appointment of a king who has a disability. Pandu ruled the kingdom with assistance from Vidura who was appointed as the Chief Minister.

Bhishma eventually had the task of selecting brides for them Dhritarashtra married Gandhari who out of devotion to her husband decided to tie a scarf around her eyes so that she too would be blind to the world and Pandu married Madri, the princess from Madra.
He wanted Pandu, the king of Hastinapur, to get married. Kunti, the adopted daughter of King Kuntibhoja, chose Pandu as her husband and was married to him. Princess Madri of Madra also Married  to the Pandu. 

Gandhari, the princess of Gandhara kingdom, was chosen as the bride for Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra was blind, and Gandhari did not want to be better than her husband in any respect. So she tied a silk bandage on her eyes and pledged never to remove it. A suitable bride was also chosen for Vidura, the minister of Hastinapur, who was raised as a brother of Pandu and Dhritarashtra.

As time passed, Kunti gave birth to three sons Yudhistira, Bhima and Arjuna. Madri gave birth to twins and name Nakula and Sahadeva. As these five were the sons of Pandu, they are called the Pandavas (Yudhishtra, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula or Sahadeva).

Gandhari wanted a hundred children so she prayed to Vyasa who granted her the boon. But Gandhari gave birth to a lump of flesh. Vyasa cut this lump into hundred and one pieces, which formed hundred boys and one girl. These children of Dhritarashtra were called the Kauravas as they belonged to the Kuru dynasty. The names of Kauravas are as follows:

1. Duryodhanan
    
2. Dussaasanan
    
3. Dussahan
    
4. Dussalan
    
5. Jalagandhan
    
6. Saman
    
7. Sahan
    
8. Vindhan
    
9. Anuvindhan
    
10. Durdharshan
     
11. Subaahu
     
12. Dushpradharshan
     
13. Durmarshanan
     
14. Durmukhan
     
15. Dushkarnan
     
16. Vikarnan
     
17. Saalan
     
18. Sathwan
     
19. Sulochanan
     
20. Chithran
     
21. Upachithran
     
22. Chithraakshan
     
23. Chaaruchithran
     
24. Saraasanan
     
25. Durmadan
     
26. Durvigaahan
     
27. Vivilsu
     
28. Vikatinandan
     
29. Oornanaabhan
     
30. Sunaabhan
     
31. Nandan
     
32. Upanandan
     
33. Chithrabaanan
     
34. Chithravarman
     
35. Suvarman
     
36. Durvimochan
     
37. Ayobaahu
     
38. Mahaabaahu
     
39. Chithraamgan
     
40. Chithrakundalan
     
41. Bheemavegan
     
42. Bheemabalan
     
43. Vaalaky
     
44. Belavardhanan
     
45. Ugraayudhan
     
46. Sushenan
     
47. Kundhaadharan
     
48. Mahodaran
     
49. Chithraayudhan
     
50. Nishamgy
     
51. Paasy
     
52. Vrindaarakan
     
53. Dridhavarman
     
54. Dridhakshathran
     
55. Somakeerthy
     
56. Anthudaran
     
57. Dridhasandhan
     
58. Jaraasandhan
     
59. Sathyasandhan
     

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