Bhismadeva and Pandavas

Chapter 22

In the generations after Divodasa came the Pancalas – Drupada, and his children Draupadi and Dhrstadyumna.

Sukadeva Goswami then listed the lineage that is described in the Mahabharata. Santanu, who assumed the throne, married Ganga, and she gave birth to Devavrata (Bhismadeva). When Ganga left him, Santanu married Satyavati, the daughter of a fisherman, and had two sons named Chitrangada and Vicitravirya. Prior to her marriage with Santanu, Satyavati had united with Parasara Muni, and Vyasadeva was born. Vyasadeva taught the science of Srimad-Bhagavatam to his son, Sukadeva Goswami.

When Santanu’s two sons died without begetting children, Vyasadeva was called to impregnate their wives, Ambika and Ambalika. Thus, Dhritarastra and Pandu were born. Later, Vyasadeva also impregnated the maidservant and Vidura was born.

Dhritarastra had one hundred sons, headed by Duryodhana, and one daughter named Duhsala. They became known as the Kauravas. Pandu had five sons, each of them conceived by a demigod, and they all had one son from Draupadi. Those five sons of Pandu were known as the Pandavas. The son of Arjuna (from Subhadra) was Abhimanyu, and Abhimanyu’s son (from Uttara) was Maharaja Pariksit, and Maharaja Pariksit had four sons, Janamejaya, Srutasena, Bhimasena and Ugrasena. Sukadeva Goswami then described the future sons in the dynasty.

Sukadeva Goswami predicted the death of Maharaja Pariksit, the subsequent rule of Janamejaya, and many kings that would appear in the future.