The Epic Beginning

The saga begins with King Shantanu of Hastinapur falling for a fisherwoman Satyavati. His son Devavrata makes an extreme sacrifice – renouncing his throne and taking a vow of celibacy to secure his father’s happiness, earning the name Bhishma.

Mahabharat

A Twisted Succession

After Satyavati’s son Vichitravirya’s sudden death, the mysterious sage Vyasa (her premarital son) fathers Pandu and Dhritarashtra through niyoga. Blind Dhritarashtra is passed over for kingship in favor of Pandu, setting the stage for future conflict.

Mahabharat

The Cursed Kings

Pandu receives a deadly curse preventing physical intimacy. His wives Kunti and Madri use divine mantras to conceive the Pandavas from gods. Meanwhile, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari produce the hundred Kauravas, creating two rival factions.

Mahabharat

The Great Rivalry

The core conflict emerges between the five noble Pandavas and their hundred Kaurava cousins. This explosive family feud over the Hastinapur throne will culminate in the devastating Kurukshetra war, testing dharma itself.