Following sage Kindama's curse, his sons were born through the boons bestowed upon his wife Kunti by a number of deities, owing to his inability to bear children.

Satyavati then invited her son Vyasa to impregnate the queens Ambika and Ambalika under the Niyoga practice.

[4][5] Pandu along with his elder half-brother Dhritarashtra, was trained in the military arts by Bhishma and Kripacharya.

[7] When it came time to nominate an heir, Vidura suggested that Pandu would be a better fit because he was not blind, unlike Dhritarashtra.

[11] While hunting in a forest (looking from a distance, his vision partially obscured by plants and trees), Pandu saw a couple of deer in the process of coitus, and shot arrows at them; he later discovered that it was the sage Kindama and his wife who were making love in the form of deer.

Sage Kindama then cursed Pandu that were he to approach his wives with the intent of making love, he would die.

[12][13] Upset and seeking to repent his deed, Pandu handed his kingdom to Dhritarashtra and left for exile in the forest.

Attributing her husband's death to herself and swept by remorse, Madri took her own life after handing her children over to Kunti.