Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2222

c7.2222

Cakroddhata—Devātithi—Ṛkṣa—Bharata—Pratīca—Śantanu. Śantanu had two wives Gaṅgā and Satyavatī. Bhīṣma was born of Gaṅgā. Vyāsa was born to Satyavatī before her marriage. From the hermit Parāśara. After the marriage, from Śantanu, two sons Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya were born to her. A Gandharva killed Citrāṅgada. Bhīṣma brought the three daughters of the King of Kāśī, Ambā, Ambikā and Ambālikā as wives of Vicitravīrya, but on the way knowing that Ambā was in love with the King of Śālva, she was sent back. Ambikā and Ambālikā became the wives of Vicitravīrya. Shortly Vicitravīrya also died. With a view to continue the royal family, Satyavatī sent for Vyāsa, so that he might beget children of Ambikā and Ambālikā. At the time of coition Ambikā closed her eyes to avoid seeing the uncouth face of Vyāsa. So she got as son Dhṛtarāṣṭra who was blind from birth. Seeing the ugly figure of Vyāsa Ambālikā turned pale and so the son born to her was pale in colour. He was called Pāṇḍu. From Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Duryodhana and his brothers were born and from Pāṇḍu were born the Pāṇḍavas. All members in the family of Kuru were known as Kauravas. But later, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra came to be known by the name ‘Kauravas’.