Text 26] The Descendants of Ajamidha 163
dhrtardstram—a son named Dhrtarastra; ca—and; pdndum—a son
named Pandu; ca—also; viduram—a son named Vidura; ca—also;
api—indeed; ajijanat—begot.
TRANSLATION

Badarayana, Sri Vyasadeva, following the order of his mother,
Satyavati, begot three sons, two by the womb of Ambika and
Ambalika, the two wives of his brother Vicitravirya, and the third
by Vicitravirya’s maidservant. These sons were Dhrtarastra, Pandu
and Vidura.

PURPORT

Vicitravirya died of tuberculosis, and his wives, Ambika and
Ambalika, had no issue. Therefore, after Vicitravirya’s death, his
mother, Satyavati, who was also the mother of Vydsadeva, asked
Vyasadeva to beget children through the wives of Vicitravirya. In those
days, the brother of the husband could beget children through the womb
of his sister-in-law. This was known as devarena sutotpatti. If the hus-
band was somehow unable to beget children, his brother could do so
through the womb of his sister-in-law. This devarena sutotpatti and the
sacrifices of asvamedha and gomedha are forbidden in the age of Kali.

asvamedham gavalambham
sannydsam pala-paitrkam
devarena sutotpattim
kalau pajica vivarjayet
“In this age of Kali, five acts are forbidden: the offering of a horse in
sacrifice, the offering of a cow in sacrifice, the acceptance of the order of
sannyasa, the offering of oblations of flesh to the forefathers, and a
man’s begetting children in his brother’s wife.” (Brahma-vaivarta
Purana).
TEXT 26
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TA FAIA SAT FAO APA HTH REI
