Madri

For the Marvel Comics characters known as The Madri, see Jamie Madrox.

In the Mahābhārata epic, Madri (Sanskrit: माद्री Mādrī) was a princess of the Madra kingdom and the second wife of Pandu.

Marriage to Pandu

Bhishma after Pandu's first marriage wanted to get him another bride. He visited Shalya, the king of Madra with his proposal. Shalya accepted but said that according to their traditions the groom gives wealth to the bride’s family. Bhishma agreed and Shalya married his sister Madri to King Pandu. Madri was very beautiful.

Retreat to the Forest

Pandu Shoots the Ascetic Kindama

She, alongside Kunti, faithfully accompanied Pandu in his hermetical retreat following his abdication as the king of Hastinapura. One day while hunting in the forest, Pandu accidentally shot an arrow killing a deer who was the coupling Sage Kindama. The sage cursed Pandu that he would die when he gets intimate with his wife with the intention of making love. Both Kunti and Madri were directly affected by the curse on Pandu because they were denied the opportunity to get intimate with Pandu and thus bear Pandu's children. However, a boon given to Kunti by Durvasa, enabled her to call upon any God to bear her a child. After Pandu learned of this boon, he requested her to call upon Gods to bear her with children. Accordingly, Kunti called upon Dharma, Vayu, and Indra and bore Yudishtira, Bhima, and Arjuna respectively.

Birth of Children

Nakula Pandava - son of Madri

Madri became sad because she did not have any special mantras to bear children. She told Pandu that though she was superior in birth to Kunti she does not have any children. Pandu spoke to Kunti on Madri's behalf and Kunti agreed to share the remaining mantras with Madri. Thus, Madri bore the twins Nakula and Sahadeva of the Ashwini Kumaras. At their birth, an incorporeal voice from the Heavens declared that the children will surpass their fathers in energy and beauty.

Death of Pandu and Self Immolation

On one fateful day, Pandu desired Madri and the memory of the curse briefly eluded him. As he pulled Madri into his embrace death striked Pandu immediately. Madri, filled with remorse, went sati on Pandu's funeral pyre. Kunti became the mother of five children after the death of Madri.

External References

• KMG Mahabharata