In the mountains of a “hundred peaks,” known by the name of Satashringa, following the birth of the three most magnificent sons of Kunti, with Dharma, the god of justice, Vayu, the god of wind, and Indra, the king of gods, the gods and celestials watching on found themselves in much wonder as to what would ensue next.

The celebrated Pandu had found himself in the mountainous forests, after thinking renunciation was his sole future, with the birth of his children, going from one level of ecstasy that he thought were unattainable, to the next.

Intoxicated with these developments, and being lured by the desire for even more children, Pandu wished to speak again unto Kunti for the purpose of invoking yet another god before them.

But Kunti addressed Pandu, saying:

'The wise, in this age, O husband, do not sanction a fourth delivery, even in a season of distress.

The woman having intercourse with four different men is called a Swai-rini self-willed adultress, and she having intercourse with five, indeed becometh a harlot.

Therefore, O learned husband, as thou art well-acquainted with the scripture on this subject, why dost thou, beguiled by desire, tell me so in seeming forgetfulness of the universal ordinance?'"

Hearing this and reflecting on her words, Pandu was left in silence.

After the birth of Kunti's three sons, Yuddhistira, Bhima and Arjuna, and also of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, the daughter of the King of Madra, Madri, privately addressed her husband Pandu, saying:

'O slayer of foes, thou knowest that I have no complaint even if thou beest unpropitious to me.

I have, O sinless one, also no complaint that though by birth I am certainly superior to the adopted Kunti, yet I am inferior to her in my station and my circumstances as second wife, and now one without issue.

I also do not grieve, O thou of Kuru's race, that Gandhari hath obtained a hundred sons.

My great grief is however, that even if I accept that Kunti and I are equal as your wives, that I should remain childless, with thou having offspring in your name, with her alone.

And so this is my proposal; if the daughter of Kuntibhoja should so kindly provision that I should have offspring, she would then be doing me great favour and benefiting thee likewise, since it seems your desire too, is to have further progeny that shall succeed from Yuddshitira, Bhima & Arjuna.

In Kunti thou, of course being my rival, I feel a delicacy in soliciting any favour of her. If thou beest, O king, favourably disposed toward me, then do ask the beautiful Kunti to grant this, my desire.'

Hearing his second wife, of slender waist, Pandu replied:

'O Madri, I do too indeed revolve this matter often in my own mind, but I have hitherto hesitated to tell thee anything, for I did not know how thou wouldst receive it.

Now that indeed what your wishes are, are mine too. I shall certainly strive after that end.

I think, that asked by me, Kunti will not refuse.'

And so Pandu, waiting for the oprtune time, found this, and in private, spoke to Kunti thus:

'My dear wife, Kunti, do thou grant me more offspring for the expansion of my race and for the benefit of the world.

O blessed one, provide thou that I myself, my ancestors, and thine also, may always have the funeral cake offered to us with certainty.

Please do what is beneficial to me, and grant me and the world what, indeed, is the best of benefits.

Behold, Indra, even though he hath obtained the sovereignty of the celestials, doth yet, for fame alone, perform sacrifices.

Therefore, O blameless one, rescue this Madri as by a raft, by granting her the means of obtaining offspring, and achieve thou imperishable fame by making her too a mother of children.'

Thus addressed by her lord, Kunti without hesitation readily yielded, and paced toward her co-wife Madri, and spoke thus:

'Think thou, O Madri, without loss of time, of some celestial with the formula for invocation that I hereby present to you, and thou shall certainly obtain from him a child, like unto him.’

Reflecting for a few moments, Madri thought of the twin Aswins; the first going by the name Nasatya representing truth, health & healing, and the second going by the name Dasra, representing heroism, light, and skill.

They, coming unto Madri from their abode with great swiftness, begat upon her two sons, who were named Nakula and Sahadeva, who were unrivalled on Earth for beauty.

And as soon as they were born, an incorporeal voice said:

'In both energy and beauty, these twins shall transcend even the twin Aswins themselves.'

They immediately illumined the entire region with their effulgence.

After all of the sons of Kunti, Madri & Pandu were born, who would be known as the five Pandavas, the Sages dwelling on the mountain of a hundred peaks, uttering blessings upon all of them, and affectionately performing the first rites of birth, bestowed appellations unto them.

Those foremost of beings, half-gods in nature, were born at an interval of one year after one another.

Pandu, beholding his children of celestial beauty and of super-abundant energy, great in strength and prowess, and of largeness of soul, rejoiced exceedingly.

Experiencing forest life amongst mountains, trees and great rivers and waterfalls, these great five children of the very celestials, became favourites of the forest-dwelling Sages, as also of their wives, dwelling on the great Satashringa,.

After some time passed, Madri approached Pandu. She disclosed to him the feeling in her heart; that she would like to have yet another child. She requested of Pandu, that he could let Kunti know of this, on her behalf.

Pandu saw Madri as most beautiful, and powerful through her lineage too. He had always found it terribly difficult to turn her away.

And so, not knowing what Kunti‘s reaction might be, Pandu approached Kunti in a somewhat pensive mood, and laid out to her the request of her co-wife Madri.

Kunti dwelled, and could not hide her disappointment, speaking the following words to Pandu, with conviction:

'Having given her the formula of invocation only once, she hath, O king, managed already to obtain two sons.

Have I not been thus deceived by her, already?

I fear, O King, that she will soon surpass me in the number of her children.

This, indeed, is the way of all wicked women; ever-seeking to surpass others, and gain prominence.

Fool that I was, I did not know that by invoking the twin gods I could obtain at once, the birth of twin children.

I beseech thee, O king, do not command me any further, though the boon hast been granted unto me.'

And here, by Kunti, the possibility of further Pandava children, or even a female child, was extinguished.

And so were born unto Pandu, Kunti and Madri, the magnificent five sons cut by the thread of the celestials, who would all live to achieve great fame and expand the Kuru race through generations.

Each bearing every auspicious mark on his person, handsome like Soma, as proud as lions, skilled in the use of the bow, of leonine tread, breast, heart, eyes, neck and  prowess, those foremost of men, resembling the celestials themselves since their infancy, began to grow up.

And beholding them and their virtues growing with years, the great Sages dwelling on that snowcapped sacred mountain were filled with wonder for this had never been seen before.

The five Pandavas, as well as the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, all grew rapidly, just like clusters of bright lotus flowers in a lake.