666 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 13
with her, but she declined. But the sun-god assured her immunity from
virgin adulteration, and so she agreed to his proposal. As a result of this
couplement, she became pregnant, and Karna was born by her. By the
grace of the sun, she again turned into a virgin girl, but being afraid of her
parents, she quitted the newly born child Karna. After that, when she
actually selected her own husband, she preferred Pandu to be her husband.
Maharaja Pandu later on wanted to retire from family life and adopt the
renounced order of life. Kunti refused to allow her husband to adopt such
life, but at last Maharaja Pandu gave her permission to become a mother
of sons by calling some other suitable personalities. Kunti did not accept
this proposal at first, but when vivid examples were set by Pandu she
agreed. Thus by dint of the mantra awarded by Durvasa Muni she called
for Dharmaraja, and thus Yudhisthira was born. She called for demigod
Vayu (air), and thus Bhima was born. She called for Indra, the King of
heaven, and thus Arjuna was born. The other two sons, namely Nakula
and Sahadeva, were begotten by Pandu himself in the womb of Madri.
Later on, Maharaja Pandu died at an early age, for which Kunti was so
aggrieved that she fainted. Two cowives, namely Kunti and Madni, decided
that Kunti should live for the maintenance of the five minor children, the
Pandavas, and Madri should accept the sati rituals by meeting voluntary
death along with her husband. This agreement was endorsed by great sages
like Satasrhga and others present on the occasion.

Later on, when the Pandavas were banished from the kingdom by the
intrigues of Duryodhana, Kunti followed her sons, and she equally faced
all sorts of difficulties during those days, During the forest life one demon
girl, Hidimbi, wanted Bhima as her husband, which was refused by Bhima,
but when the girl approached Kunti and Yudhisthira, they ordered Bhima
to accept her proposal and give her a son. As a result of this combination,
Ghatotkach was born, and he fought very valiantly with his father against
the Kauravas. In their forest life they lived with a brahmana family that
was in trouble because of one Bakasura demon, and Kunti ordered Bhima
to kill the Bakasura to protect the brahmana family against troubles
created by the demon. She advised Yudhisthira to start for the Paiicala-
dega. Draupadi was gained in this Pancala-desa by Arjuna, but by order of
Kunti all the five brothers of the Pandavas became equally the husbands of
Pancali or Draupadi. She was married with five Pandavas in the presence of
Vyasadeva. Kuntidevi never forgot her first child, Karna, and after Karna’s
death in the Battle of Kuruksetra she lamented and admitted before her
other sons that Karna was her eldest son prior to her marriage with
Maharaja Pandu. After the Battle of Kuruksetra, when Lord Krsna was
going back home, her prayers for the Lord are excellently explained. Later
