Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1846

c8.1846

But he changed that decision and started for the Himālayas to perform penance there. Kuntī and Mādrī accompanied him. They gave away all their jewels and ornaments as gifts to brahmins. People followed them to the border of the forests and returned to the country weeping. Pāṇḍu and his wives visited such holy places as Nāgaśatādri, Caitraratha, Kālakūṭa, Himālayas, Gandhamādana and the lake Indradyumna. Then they went to Śataśṛṅga and started performing penance. Once Pāṇḍu and wives along with a few sages went to Brahmaloka to attend a Yāga there. The long travel toiled them much and on the way Pāṇḍu wept thinking of his pitiable state of having no issue. Then Pāṇḍu told them of his helplessness in the matter because of the curse of the sage Kindama hanging over him. Then Kuntī confided in him the secret of the divine mantras in her possession. Pāṇḍu was extremely pleased and with his permission Kuntī got three sons, Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena and Arjuna. She gave one chance to Mādrī and she got two sons out of it named Nakula and Sahadeva.