How Was Kunti and Pandu’s First Child Born?

Far from Hastinapur, in a forest hermitage, King Pandu and his wife Kunti performed special rituals. Kunti revealed her secret boon received in her youth — the power to invoke any deity and bear a child by them.

Following Pandu’s wish for a righteous son, Kunti invoked Dharmaraj (Yama). On the auspicious day — full moon of Shukla Paksha Panchami in Jyeshtha month with Abhijit Muhurta — she gave birth to a divine son.

A heavenly voice announced: “This child will be known for his truth and valour. He will always stand firm on Dharma. Name him Yudhishthira.”

Pandu was overjoyed. Later, he asked Kunti to invoke Vayu Dev for a powerful second son. Meanwhile in Hastinapur, Gandhari, who had been pregnant for over a year, felt both joy and jealousy upon hearing the news of Yudhishthira’s birth.