Prologue: The Curse of the Kuru Dynasty

The Curse of the Kuru Dynasty:

The Mahabharata begins with the story of King Shantanu of Hastinapura, who falls in love with Ganga, the river goddess. She bears him a son, Devavrata (later known as Bhishma), but leaves Shantanu after a series of tragic events. Years later, Shantanu marries Satyavati, a fisherwoman, on the condition that her sons will inherit the throne. To ensure this, Devavrata takes a vow of lifelong celibacy, earning the name Bhishma ("one who takes a terrible vow").

Satyavati's sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya, rule Hastinapura, but both die young without heirs. To continue the Kuru dynasty, Satyavati asks her son Vyasa (born before her marriage to Shantanu) to father children with Vichitravirya's widows, Ambika and Ambalika. This union produces Dhritarashtra (born blind), Pandu (born pale), and Vidura (born to a maid, wise but disqualified from kingship).

Key Themes

-Dharma (Duty): The epic explores the complexities of adhering to one's duty in difficult situations.

- **Karma (Action)**: Actions have consequences