Mahabharata – 189
by
Sankar Mukherjee
&
Dr Ramesh Chandra Mukhopadhyaya
    Aadivamsavatarana Parva

Pandu’s request to Kunti

The rishis said --- Oh pious king ! There are sons for you. They will be sinless blissful with good fortune and liken the gods. We see it all with our prophetic eyes.

 Therefore, Oh king! Be careful to obtain the fruits that are distinctly visible to our minds eye. You will really obtain accomplished and pleasing sons.

Hearing these words of the sages, Pandu, remembering the loss of his procreative power owing to the curse of the deer was distracted deeply. And calling his wife the amiable Kunti in private he said to her --- Make every effort to raise offspring at this time of distress. The wise explained that we will have sons. Oh Kunti!, Offspring is the cause of virtuous fame in the three worlds. It is said that sacrifices, charitable gifts, ascetic penances, and vows do not cmpensate the want of a son. Knowing all this, I am certain that being sonless, I shall not obtain regions of true bliss. Being an unfortunate person I was addicted to cruel deeds.As a result of this I lost my power of procreation cursed by the deer. Religious merit is of no avail to a sonless man. Oh Kunti!, listen to me  --- Six kinds of sons have the right to inherit the paternal property.1st, the son begotten by one's own self upon his wife, 2nd, the son begotten upon one's wife by a competent person from motives of kindness, 3rd, the son begotten upon one's wife by a person for financial consideration; 4th, the son begotten upon the wife after the husband's death,5th, the son begotten before the marriage takes place

and 6th, the son born of an immoral wife. Besides there could be six other types of sons 1st,is the son gifted, 2nd, the son bought for a consideration, 3rd, the son who is obtained artificially, 4th, the son received with a pregnant bride, 5th, the brother's son, and 6th, the son begotten upon a wife of lower caste. On failure of begetting an offspring of the prior class, the mother should desire to have offspring of the next class. In times of distress, females solicit offspring from the younger brother of her husband. The self-born Manu said that men failing to get offspring of their own may have offspring begotten upon their wives by others. They have the highest religious merit. Therefore, Oh Kunti! As I lost my power of procreation, I request you to raise amiable offspring through some person who is either equal or superior. Oh Kunti, listen to the history of  Saradandayani. She was appointed by her husband to raise offspring. When her monthly season arrived, she bathed duly and in the night went out and waited on a spot where four roads met. There she met a Brahmana of great ascetic success. Saradandayana solicited him for offspring. After offering clarified butter to the sacrificial fire she spent the night with that brahamana.Thus she brought forth three sons.They were mighty car-warriors and Durjaya or the unconqurable was the eldest. Oh  you of good fortune, follow my request, and promptly raise offspring out of the seed of some Brahmana of high ascetic merit.