Pandu Passes Away

Pandu led purely an ascetic life with his two wives after he received the curse. Many years passed by.

It was spring time and suddenly Pandu felt an intense desire to have the company of his wives . He forgot for an instance the curse that was on him. Madri was nearby and he embraced her ignoring her protests . The very next moment Pandu fell down dead. Madri was shocked beyond words and fell down unconscious after letting out a cry in despair.

Kunti came on the scene and saw the two lying on the ground. She was grief stricken.
She learnt from Madri in due course what happened.

What was left for the two queens was to cremate the body of the king as best as they could. When the funeral pyre was ready both Kunti and Madri wanted to end their lives and accompany their husband in his journey to the other world. Madri tried to convince the elder queen the need for one of them to look after the five sons. She insisted that she would follow the path of her husband as she was the cause for his death. She entrusted the future of her two sons, Nakula and Sahadeva, in the hands of Kunti and entered the funeral pyre .

That was how the life of Madri ended joining her dear husband at his death.

The Royal Family returns to the palace.

The other ascetics staying in the forest gathered and consoled Kunti. They advised her that the time had come for her to return to the palace. They, themselves, accompanied Kunti and the five princes to Hastinapura carrying the remains of the royal pair. Bhishma, Sathyavathy and all others of the palace were grief stricken by the news. They made grand arrangements and performed the last rites of Pandu and Madri befitting their royal status.