Madri - The Alluring Maiden

Part 1

Madri was the princess of the Madra kingdom. She was the second wife of King Pandu of Hastinapur. Here is the story of Madri...

Once the king of Hastinapur, Pandu went on a hunting expedition. On his way back to the palace through the forests, he stopped by to rest under a tree. Soon he fell asleep.

Suddenly he was woken up by a kingly man saying, "Friend, are you hurt? Why are you sitting alone in middle of this dense forest?"

Pandu woke up startled. He took a glimpse and then smiled back. He said, "Friend, it was a long and tiring day. I went for hunting and was too tired to move forward, so thought of resting here for a while".

Pandu was pleased by the warm and endearing words of the man. He warmly said, "Friend, I am Pandu - the king of Hastinapur. Who are you?"

The man replied, "I am Shalya, the king of Madra".

They talked for while, until they realized that it was getting dark. So they decided to ride back on their horses and return to respective the palaces.

The forest where Pandu came for hunting was known to have many animals. He was known to often come there for hunting.

One day again in the forest, Pandu met Shalya who was equally fond of hunting. Gradually they became good friends. Shalya visited Hastinapur for feast and family mingling. Pandu also visited Madra with Kunti.

Shalya had a sister named Madri. She was extremely charming.

Shalya wanted to marry her and he found Pandu to be an apt match for her. Shalya proposed her sister's name to Pandu for marriage. Pandu who had been already lured by Madri's beauty and her fine ways, readily accepted the proposal.

A grand nuptial ceremony was organized for their marriage and Madri married Pandu. Kunti, who was Pandu's earlier wife accepted Madri willingly. They lived in harmony and Kunti treated Madri as her younger sister.

Madri desired child. She told her desire to Kunti, who gave her a divine mantra. The mantra had the powerful to please God, who could be asked for blessing of a child.

Matri meditated with the mantra to the twin Gods Ashvinikumars. Soon she was blessed with twins, who were named Nakula and Sahadeva.

Part 2

Hunting, as told earlier was one of the favorite past times of kings. So it happened that one day Pandu went for hunting.

While he had been eying a prey, he heard some animal approaching in his direction. The sound of dry crushing leaves suddenly stopped, as two beautiful deers stooped near a tree. They calmly stood by each others side with their eyes closed, their elongated ears lowered. Pandu was pleased to find such an easy prey. He had nothing to chase, but to shoot and hunt them down. And he did so without thinking, without delay.

Pandu raised his bow and recklessly targeted the deers with the arrows. The helpless animals fell to his prey and agonizing human voices befell Pandu's ears. He stood startled, unable to believe what he was seeing - a sage and his wife laid dying by the wrath if his arrows! They cried in pain.

The sage was furious. He exclaimed, "For your play and pastime, you shot us while we were seeking a union. I curse that you shall die if you mate!'

Before Pandu could plead mercy or seek forgiveness from them, the sage and his wife collapsed. Pandu performed their final rites and left the forest.

Back in palace, Pandu remained disturbed. He had a sleepless night and the next day he abdicated the throne of Hastinapur. He decided to abandon the kingly life and live in the forests. But his wives were too loyal towards him. They decided to escorted him and did so.

One fateful day, Kunti went for collecting firewood from the forest. During her absence, Pandu was overcome by desire and embraced Madri. He failed to remember the curse and unfortunately he died instantly. Madri sat crying. When Kunti returned, she was filled with remorse over loose and infidelity of her husband.

The last rites of Pandu were performed by his step father - Bhishma. However, Madri was so overcome by grief and remorse that she surrendered herself into the funeral pyre (practice called Sati, meaning self sacrifice) of Pandu.

Following this tragic event, Kunti returned to the palace in Hastinapur to take care of sons of Pandu. She became the mother of all the five Pandav brothers.