Paandu Brings Maadree

Paandu won Kaashee Desh, Ang Desh, Bang Desh, Magadh Desh. The then he saw an army coming towards him. The army chief said - 'I am Madra's king." Paandu said - "I am Hastinaapur's king." Then Madra's king climbed down from his chariot and came to Paandu and extended his friendship to him. Paandu readily accepted it, then Madra's king offered his sister Maadree as his wife. Paandu accepted her also and came back to Hastinaapur with her. Kuntee etc welcomed her heartily. After the death of Chitraangad and Vichitraveerya these small kingdoms became carefree, so this victory over these kingdoms re-established the supremacy of Kuru house

After this victory tour Vidur advised Paandu to relax. Paandu asked Dhritraashtra also to come along with him but Dhritraashtra refused the offer saying that he was the shadow of Hastinaapur and he could not go anywhere. Then Paanchaal king hoisted their flag at Garhmukteshwar, so once again Paandu had to go there to fight but he returned without fighting.

Paandu Loves Satsang

Vidur made the arrangements for Paandu to relax and he went away there along with Kuntee and Maadree. He kept his crown on Dhritraashtr'a head, saying that until he came back that crown would be of Dhritraashtra and he should be considered the Hastinaapur's King. Dhritraashtra was very happy to have the crown on his head, but got sad thinking that it was not his but was of Paandu. Paandu met Kindam Rishi and his wife in the forest where he was relaxing. They didn't have any child.

In Hastinaapur, Shakuni instigated Dhritrashtra - "You should learn to know your future. As Paandu will come back from his rest your head will be without this crown." Dhritraashtra said - "But this is his crown only. I have befriended my fate." Shakuni said - "You are making a mistake. Friendship is extended only to an equal status person. And since when fate has become your friend? Fate is your greatest enemy. There are only two ways to draw one's fate line - either by the tip of the arrows or by the tip of the wisdom. You should not be so depressed, be courageous. Nobody knows which turn of fate brings you at which point."

In the forest Paandu was enjoying with his wives. He liked Satsang (company of saints), so he often went to Kindam Rishi. Sometimes he also used to come to Paandu's place. One day Rishi said - "Life is like a river, flowing between the two banks of Truth and Untruth, but its water has mixed characteristics of both. Good person is he who takes out the Truth out of this water. And when he gets the Truth, he comes to know that he is indebted to, and he has to pay this debt before leaving this world. There are three debts - Dev Rin (debt), Rishi Rin, and Pitra Rin. A man should not leave this world without paying these Rin. And if he does that he gets insulted.

Paandu asked - "And if somebody's fate is like that, then?" Kindam Rishi said - "Then the Karm line (action line) should be stronger than fate line. It is not that people have not changed their fate at all. Rishi Rin is of Bhagvaan Shankar's Rin, Dev Rin is of Bhagvaan Vishnu's Rin and Pitra Rin is of Pitaa Brahmaa's Rin. Rishi Rin is paid off by acquiring and imparting knowledge; Dev Rin is paid off by donations; and Pitra Rin is paid off by producing children." After telling this Rishi Kindam went away.

In Hastinaapur, Shakuni brought a good news to Dhritraashtra that Paandu liked Satsang very much, and he got busy there in Satsang. Dhritraashtra said - "This is very good. To attend Satsang is the glory of Bharat Vansh princes." Shakuni said - "If Raajaa Shantanu's elder brother had not gone to forest, he would not have got this crown, Jeejaa Jee, That is what I also want, that Paandu lives in forest and you live here in palace."

Dhritraashtra again said - "But Shakuni, This crown is of Paandu. It is not mine" Shakuni said - "No, This crown never belonged to Paandu. It is only Vidur's tactics which kept this crown on Paandu's head taking off from your head; and I cannot forgive Vidur for this cheating." Dhritraashtra patiently said - "If one doesn't have the strength to fight with situation then it is always better to compromise with it." But Shakuni was not ready to agree with it.

Paandu Bags Shaap

After some time Satyavatee asked Bheeshm to tell Dhritraashtra to call Paandu back from the forest. When Bheeshm said this to Dhritraashtra, he asked - "Whether it is a message or the order?" Bheeshm said - "Message of elders is also an order." So Dhritraashtra had to obey it. He sent a message to Paandu to come back to Hastinaapur.

Dhritraashtra came to Shakuni, he was playing dice game at that time. Dhritraashtra asked - "Whom you are playing with, Shakuni?" Shakuni replied - "Between my soul and ambition." Dhritraashtra asked - "Whom do you want the winner?" Shakuni said - "Shakuni plays only for winning." Dhritraashtra said - "But here the soul is also yours and the ambition is also yours." Shakuni said - "No Mahaaraaj, Soul is not hundred percent mine, it is of Vidhaataa (Bhagavaan) also, but yes, ambition is surely hundred percent mine whether it is fulfilled or not. Therefore I will favor my ambition only."

Shakuni further asked - "But how did you come here?" Dhritraashtra said - "Maataa Satyvatee wants to call Paandu back from the forest. My head will again be without crown." Shakuni said angrily - "Whatever I will have to do, I will do but my sister will definitely rule." Dhritraashtra said - "When Bheeshm was helpless in front of Vidur's ethics, then what are you?" Shakuni said - "Jeejaa Jee, Don't compare me with Bheeshm. So if Maataa Satyavatee has asked you to call Paandu back then call him back, but never leave trust on Shakuni who has many unfailing arrows in his quiver."

Paandu was enjoying in forest that one day, Paandu went for hunting. He saw two deer playing with each other happily together. Paandu knew shooting Shabd-Vedhee Baan also, so as those two deer disappeared from his eyes and he heard their cries of joy, he shot a Shabd-Vedhee Baan and by chance both died. But when he went to take his game he found that there were Kindam Rishi and his wife together. Paandu repented a lot but Kindam Rishi gave him Shaap before dying "You have kiled us when we were together, you will also die only when you will be with your wife."

In fact what happened that Kindam Rishi didn't have a child and was trying to have one, so he wanted to love his wife without any restraint. Since only animals are able to love without any thought of the openness of it, the Rishi and his wife changed themselves into a couple of deer. Thus they could always stay together.

With a heavy heart Paandu came back and told this to his queens. He had got a black spot of Rishi's killing on his head, so he had to do some kind of Praayshchit. He had decided to live a different life. "I will not be happy in pleasures, nor I will be sad in sorrows. I will not love my life, nor I will hate it. I will do severe Tap not by sitting under a tree but by renouncing all the worldly things mentally."