Vyāsa Maharishi once visited Hastināpura. Gāndhāri took care of Vyāsa Maharishi, since he was her father in law. Vyāsa was pleased with the sincerity of Gāndhāri. He blessed that she will have 100 sons all of whom would be as strong as Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

As Vyāsa Maharishi had foretold, Gāndhāri became pregnant but even after two years she did not deliver the children. During this time, she received the news that Kunti had given birth to Yudhiṣṭhira. This upset her further. In frustration she punched her stomach. An iron like mass of flesh came out of her stomach as a result.

Duryodhana brayed like a donkey as soon as he was born. Hearing this all other donkeys also started braying and wolves started crying. This was considered a bad omen.

Duryodhana was born amidst bad omens. A concerned Dhṛtarāṣṭra convened an assembly of all elders including Bhīṣma and Vidhura. He asked them if Duryodhana can succeed Yudhiṣṭhira to the throne. At that time all the wolves and foxes started whining again. The elders considered this a bad omen. They advised Dhṛtarāṣṭra that this child is born with bad omens and a that is a bad sign for the prajās. They advised Dhṛtarāṣṭra to sacrifice Duryodhana for the benefit of the kingdom. They also advised him that such a sacrifice, done for the benefit of the kingdom is an appropriate act. However, Dhṛtarāṣṭra did not listen to them.

Dushala is the sister of Kauravas. Gāndhāri was wistful that even though she would be blessed with 100 sons, she would not have a daughter. She prayed that if all her good conduct, vrata and seva to elders is indeed truthful, she should be blessed with a girl.

Vyāsa Maharishi told her that there is an extra piece of flesh and through that a sweet girl child will be born to Gāndhāri who will give her immense happiness.

The deer was in fact the son of a Rishi. He had taken the form of a deer to be intimate with his wife. At that moment Pāndu shot the arrow that fatally wounded both of them. The deer taught Dharma to Pāndu at his dying moments. He reminded Pāndu that humans do not kill even their enemies if they are unarmed and unprepared. Therefore, killing the deer in their moment of intimacy is worse; as they were engaging in a dhārmic act and that Pāndu should have waited.

The deer told Pāndu that even great sinners who do not have the sense of discernment will commit the sin that Pāndu has done. Therefore, his Prajna will be led astray by fate. He will die at his moment of intimacy and that his partner will also accompany him to Yamaloka.

The deer also told Pāndu that even though the deer was the son of a Rishi, Pāndu will not earn the curse of Brahmahatyā as he was unaware of the deer’s true identity.

After the curse, Pāndu retired to Himālayas and led an ascetic life. However, he was not able to ascend to devaloka with Rishis. He realized that it was because he had not yet settled his Pitṛ ṛṇa (obligations). There are four kinds of ṛṇa (obligations). Pāndu, through his Yajna had settled the obligations to Devas. Through his Dhyāna he had settled the obligations to Rishis. By his ahimsā and compassion he had settled the obligations to fellow humans. However, he was unable to settle the obligations to his Pitṛ without a male heir. Therefore, even though he was aware of the curse, he desired a male heir.

Vyuṣitāśva died a premature death because of excessive Kāma.

Yudhiṣṭhira means one who stands firm in the battle without withdrawing. When Yudhiṣṭhira was born, an Asariri proclaimed that the child would be the best among men, would be the best among Dhārmic men and would be known for his truthfulness.

Duryodhana and Bhīma share the same birthday.

Bhīma was known as Vrkodara which means stomach like a wolf. Even though Bhīma ate a lot, his stomach stayed firm like that of a wolf. Therefore he was called Vrkodara.

The newborn Bhīma was on Kunti’s lap. A tiger came behind Kunti and roared. Kunti was startled and got up suddenly. That made the newborn Bhīma roll off Kunti’s lap. Bhīma rolled on the hill slope and struck a rock. Due to the strength of Bhīma, the rock shattered to pieces.

The name Arjuna means sinless. Just like when Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma were born, divine voices extolled the virtue of Arjuna.

Mādrī invoked Aśvinīkumāras. They blessed Mādrī with twins, Nakula and Sahadeva. Nakula means one who invokes dread among enemies. Sahadeva means one who is amicable with everyone.

After Pāndu’s death, Kunti and the Pāndava children reached Hastināpur. The whole town was in grief. Vyāsa then came to Satyavati and told her that happy days are over. He told her that she should not see her clan being destroyed. He advised her to retire to forest and do Tapas. Thereafter Satyavati took her daughter-in-laws with her and retired to forest. She spent her last days in Tapas in the forest.

Duryodhana fed Kālakuta poison to Bhīma along with a feast. A tired Bhīma collapsed on the shores of Ganges. The Kauravas tied him up and drowned him. As Bhīma was sinking towards Nāgaloka, several snakes bit Bhīma. This served as an antidote to the poison and Bhīma woke up. He started killing the snakes.

The frightened snakes informed Vāsuki who realised that this is Bhīma and their descendant. He offered Bhīma as much of Amrut as he wants. Bhīma drank eight pots of the nectar. Each pot has the ability to give the strength of a 1,000 elephants. Thus, Duryodhana inadvertently made Bhīma immensely strong by trying to poison and drown him.