When Pandu, king of the Kurus, was living in the forest, he once shot an arrow at a deer, not knowing that it was a sage in disguise, observing a vow. As the sage lay dying, he spoke in grief and anger: “You, cruel one, have killed me before I could fulfill my purpose, while I was following the vow of a deer. Because of this, a similar fate will soon befall you.” Thus cursed, Pandu was stricken with distress and sorrow. Fearing the curse, he refrained from approaching his wives, determined to avoid the doom that awaited him. Yet Pandu’s heart was troubled. One day, he lamented, “Through my own recklessness, I have come to this. I have heard in the ancient stories that those without children have no worlds to attain hereafter.” Driven by this fear, he turned to his wife Kunti and pleaded, “Therefore, for my sake, beget sons.” Kunti, blessed with a divine boon, invoked the gods. From Dharma, she bore Yudhishthira; from Vayu, Bhimasena; and from Indra, Arjuna. Pleased, Pandu said to her, “Here is your co-wife, Madri. She is childless and modest—let a son be begotten in her as well.” Kunti agreed, instructing Madri in the sacred vow. Madri invoked the Ashvin twins and bore Nakula and Sahadeva. But fate could not be averted. One day, Pandu beheld Madri, adorned with beautiful ornaments, and was overwhelmed by desire. Forgetting the curse, he approached her, and as soon as he attained her, Pandu’s life ended, just as the sage had foretold. Grief-stricken, Madri resolved to follow her husband in death. She told Kunti, “As a noble woman, you must remain vigilant for the sake of the sons of Yama.” With those words, Madri ascended the funeral pyre with Pandu. Afterwards, the ascetics of the forest led the five Pandavas and Kunti to Hastinapura. There, they reported the truth of Pandu’s passing to Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, and Vidura. But soon, danger arose. The son of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana, plotted to burn the Pandavas and Kunti alive in the house of lac. Vidura, wise and loyal, rescued them from this peril. During their wanderings, Bhima killed the rakshasa Hidimba and begot a son, Ghatotkaca, on Hidimba’s sister, Hidimbi. The Pandavas then reached the town of Ekachakra safely. Later, they traveled to the land of the Panchalas, where they attended Draupadi’s svayamvara and won her hand. With Draupadi as their wife, they gained half the kingdom and took up residence at Indraprastha, where they begot sons on Draupadi. Of these sons, two were named Shrutasena and Sahadeva. Yudhishthira also married Devaki, the daughter of Shaivya, and begot a son named Yaudheya. Bhimasena married Jalandhara, daughter of the king of Kashi, at her svayamvara in Varanasi, and she bore him a son named Sharvatrata. Arjuna journeyed to Dvaravati and married Subhadra, the sister of the blessed Vasudeva, and on her he begot a son named Abhimanyu. Nakula married Renumati of the Cedis and begot a son named Niramitra. Sahadeva, at his own svayamvara, married Vijaya, Madri’s own daughter, and begot a son named Suhotra. Bhimasena’s son Ghatotkaca, born of the rakshasi Hidimba, was already renowned. Arjuna begot a son named Iravat on Ulupi, the serpent maiden, and another son, Babhruvahana, on Chitrangada, daughter of the lord of Manalura. Thus, the Pandavas had thirteen sons. Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, married Uttara, daughter of King Virata. After Abhimanyu’s death, Uttara conceived his posthumous son. Kunti took the unborn child onto her lap, and by the command of the best of men, Vasudeva declared, “I will sustain this six-month-old fetus by the touch of my foot. I will give life to this boy of boundless energy; he is born even now. By the truth of Abhimanyu, let this earth be upheld.” By Vasudeva’s touch, the child was born alive, and Subhadra gave him his name. When the lineage of the Pandavas seemed to dwindle, the illustrious Parikshit was born to Uttara and the noble son of Subhadra. Parikshit later married Bhadravati, and from her you, Janamejaya, were born. From you, Janamejaya, two sons of great splendor were born: Shatanika and Shankukarna. Shatanika married a princess of Videha, and from her was born his son Ashvamedhadatta. Thus is recounted the lineage of Puru and the Pandavas; whoever hears this sacred genealogy is freed from all sins. Now, there was a king named Uparichara, ever devoted to righteousness, who delighted in hunting, was steadfast in his studies, and pure in conduct. This King Vasu, the joy of the Paurava line, was instructed by Indra to take possession of the beautiful land of Cedi. While living in an ashram, having set aside his weapons, the gods led by Shakra approached the ascetic king. They thought, “This king is worthy of Indrahood through his austerity,” and so they gently turned him away from the path of asceticism. They said, “Let not this righteousness be mixed upon the earth, O king. You uphold righteousness, and it sustains the whole world. We gods are the protectors; you, protect humanity. Always steadfast, uphold righteousness in the world. Thus, endowed with righteousness, you will attain the eternal blessed worlds. “Dwelling on earth, you are my dear friend as I am in heaven. O king, reside in that region of the earth called Udha. That land is blessed, abundant in cattle, rich in wealth and grain, secure, gentle, and endowed with every enjoyment and virtue. This land is prosperous, filled with wealth and jewels; the earth is full of treasures—dwell among the Cedis, O lord of the Cedis. The people there are righteous and content; even among the free, there is no false speech, much less otherwise. Fathers do not divide their sons, who are devoted to their elders’ welfare; they yoke the oxen to the plough and urge on the lean ones.” Thus, the story and the noble lineage of the Pauravas and Pandavas were recounted, along with the virtues of King Uparichara and the blessed land of the Cedis.