[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c5.805 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.805 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c5.805 - **Language:** English ### [c5.805](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.805) DHRṬARĀṢṬRA. I. Father of the Kauravas. 1) Genealogy. (See the genealogy of Arjuna). 2) Birth. Śantanu, a king of the Lunar dynasty, had two wives Gaṅgā and Satyavatī. Gaṅgā gave birth to eight sons. But seven of them were thrown into the river Gaṅgā. Giving the eighth son Bhīṣma to Śantanu Gaṅgā disappeared. Śantanu then married Satyavatī, a fisher-woman. Satyavatī gave birth to two sons, Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya. When Śantanu grew old, Citrāṅgada was anointed as King, as Bhīṣma had taken Brahmavrata (vow of celibacy). Once when Citrāṅgada went to the forest for hunting, a Gandharva of the name Citrāṅgada killed him. So Vicitravīrya became the King of Hastināpura. Bhīṣma took the three daughters of the King of Kāśi, Ambā, Ambikā and Ambālikā by force into his chariot and brought the last two, to Hastināpura to be given as wives to Vicitravīrya. On the way he sent Ambā back. Vicitravīrya married Ambikā and Ambālikā. But shortly after that he also died, before any children were born to him. Fearing that the Lunar dynasty would come to an end, Satyavatī brought her son Vedavyāsa, who was born to her from hermit Parāśara, before her marriage, to Hastināpura. In the night Satyavatī sent Ambikā adorned with ornaments and costly garments, to the bedroom of Vyāsa. But she could not bear to lie with Vyāsa who was clad in barks of the tree and wearing matted hair. Still thinking that it was not right on her part to stand against the wish of her mother, she approached Vyāsa and lay with him with closed eyes. Ambikā became pregnant. The child she gave birth to, was blind. That child was Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Next night Ambālikā approached Vyāsa. When she saw Vyāsa she turned pale at his uncouth figure and her face became bloodless. So the child born to her was pale and was called Pāṇḍu. Next night the maid of the queen approached Vyāsa with a joyful heart and so she got Vidura, as son, who was extremely wise and intelligent. Thus Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu and Vidura became sons of the same father.¹ (M.B. Ādi Parva, Chapters, 63 and 105). - [Previous: c5.804](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.804) - [Next: c5.806](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.806) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5) ## Cites (1) - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.805](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c5.805) · Pramāṇa