Pandu is later cursed by Sage Kindama, that he will die if he attempts to impregnate his wives. Pandu marries Kunti, a princess of Kunti Kingdom, and Madri of Madra Kingdom. Dhritarashtra is denied the throne for being blind, and the throne is given to Pandu. This angers Shakuni, the brother of Gandhari, and he vows to destroy Bhishma, as it was him who had brought the proposal for Gandhari's marriage. After knowing her would-be-husband is blind Gandhari decided to blindfold herself to share her husband's pain. Soon, Ambika gives birth to Dhritarashtra, born blind, Ambalika gives birth to Pandu, born pale and Parashrami gives birth to Vidura.ĭhritarashtra is married to Gandhari, the princess of Gandhara Kingdom because of her boon of bearing a hundred sons. Besides the queens, Vyasa also impregnates a maid Parishrami through occult. Vichitravirya died without any children, but Veda Vyasa, the son of Satyavati born through occult is requested to impregnate Vichitravirya's 2 wives Ambika and Ambalika the same way he was conceived. She blames Bhisma and vows that she will be the reason of his death. Chitrangad dies and on the advice of queen Saytavati Bhisma wins the three princesses of Kashi kingdom for Vichitravirya but the eldest Princess Amba refuses to marry him and leaves for her lover who rejects her.
Shantanu and Satyavati marry and have 2 children - Chitrangada and Vichitravirya.
The story begins with Bhishma, the son of Shantanu and Ganga, taking his oath of celibacy to convince Satyavati to marry his father Shantanu, the king of Hastinapura.