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Kuntibhoja
arranged for a Swayamvara for his daughter and invited all eligible monarchs
and princes. During the Swayamvra, Kunti chose the Kuru prince Pandu and
garlanded him.
Kuntibhoja got the marriage between Kunti and Pandu
performed in the traditional way and sent the couple off to the Kuru kingdom
after presenting his son-in-law with a lot of wealth. After returning to his capital, Pandu
installed Kunti as the queen.
After
sometime, Bhishma decided that Panda should have a second wife. He went to meet Salya, the King of Madra, taking along with him several sages, Brahmins and other councilors.
Bhishma was
received by the King of Madra in an
appropriate way. After extending his hospitality to Bhishma and his entourage,
King Salya politely asked Bhishma of the purpose of his visit.
Bhishma said, “I have come here to seek your
beautiful sister Madri for Pandu. You are worthy of an alliance with us and we
too are worthy of an alliance with you.”
King
Salya said, “There is no one other than a member of your family with whom I can
enter into an alliance. But there is a custom in our family which I can’t
violate.”
Bhishma
was aware of the custom referred to by Salya.
He said, “I respect your family
custom and I will comply with it.” He then offered to Salya a lot of gold,
precious stones, ornaments, clothes, elephants, horses and chariots as gift.
Accepting these gifts, Salya gave away his sister. Bhishma returned to the
capital of the Kuru kingdom, taking Madri along with him.
Pandu
was married to Madri on an auspicious day.
Pandu
lived happily in the company of his two wives for about a month.
After thirty
days, he left the palace for conquering the world, taking leave of his wives, Bhisma,
Dritharashtra and other elders.
When his entourage comprising an army of
soldiers, elephants, horses and chariots left the capital, it received an
enthusiastic ovation from the people.
Pandu
first subjugated the robber tribes of Asrana. He then attacked the kingdom of
Mabhadha. He killed the King of Maghadha and defeated his army. He then vanquished the kingdoms of
Mithila, Kasi, Sumbha and Pundra.
All the kings vanquished by Pandu along with
their forces were made vassals of the Kurus. All the kings regarded Pandu as one single
hero on earth just as the Celestials regarded their chief Indra.
On hearing of Pandu’s victories, people of
Kuru kingdom exclaimed “The glory of the achievements of Santanu, and of the wise Bharata, which was about to
die, has been revived by Pandu!”
When Pandu returned to Hastinapura, he was given a
rousing reception by the citizens, with
Bhishma leading them.
Everyone was astounded by the quantum of wealth brought
by Pandu, carrying it on the elephants, horses, chariots, camels etc. and
the long line of elephants, horses and
other animals that was following the victorious Pandu.
Pandu
fell on the feet of Bhishma and offered his respects. He also saluted the
citizens who greeted him.
At the
command of Dhritarashtra, Pandu offered
the bulk of the wealth he had acquired to Bhishma, their grand-mother Satyavati
and their mothers. He also distributed some of the wealth to Vidura and his other
relatives.
Using the wealth brought in by Pandu, Dritharashtra performed five
great sacrifices, which were equal to hundred great Aswameta Yagas
(horse-sacrifices), during which he offered a lot of wealth to the Brahmins.
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