"Vaishampaayana said, 'Soon after the monthly season of the princess of Kosala had been over, Satyavati, purifying her daughter-in-law with a bath, led her into the sleeping apartment. There seating her upon a luxurious bed, she addressed her, saying, 'O Princess of Kosala, your husband (Vichitravirya) has an elder brother who shall this day enter your womb as your child. Wait for him tonight without dropping off to sleep.' Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the friendly princess, as she lay on her bed, began to think of Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race. Then the Rishi of truthful speech (Vyasa), who had given his promise in respect of Ambika (the eldest of the princesses) in the first instance, entered her chamber while the lamp was burning.
"The princess (Ambika), seeing his dark looks, his matted locks of copper colour, blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear. The Rishi (Vyasa), from desire of accomplishing his mother's wishes, however knew her. But the latter (Ambika), struck with fear, opened not her eyes even once to look at him. When Vyasa came out, he was met by his mother (Satyavati), who asked him, 'Shall the princess (Ambika) have an accomplished son?' Hearing her, he (Maharishi Vyasa) replied, 'The son of the princess (Ambika) she will bring forth shall be equal in might to ten thousand elephants. He will be an illustrious Rajarishi, possessed of great learning and intelligence and energy. The high-souled one shall have in his time a century of sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall be blind.'
"At these words of her son, Satyavati said, 'O you of wealth of Tapas, how can one that is blind become a monarch worthy of the Kurus? How can one that is blind become the protector of his relatives and family, and the glory of his father's race? It is your duty to give another king to the Kurus.' Saying, 'So be it,' Vyasa went away. The first princess of Kosala (Ambika) in due time brought forth a blind son.
"O punisher of enemies (Janamejaya), soon after Satyavati summoned Vyasa, after having secured the assent of her daughter-in-law. Vyasa came according to his promise, and approached, as before, the second wife of his brother. Ambalika seeing the Rishi, became pale with fear. O Bharata (Janamejaya), seeing her so pained and pale with fear, Vyasa addressed her and said, 'Because you have been pale with fear at the sight of my unattractive looks, therefore, your child shall be pale in complexion. O you of beautiful face, the name also your child shall bear will be Paandu (the pale).'
"Saying this, the illustrious and best of Rishis (Vyasa) came out of her chamber. As he came out, he was met by his mother (Satyavati) who asked him about the would-be-child. The Rishi told her that the child would be of pale complexion and known by the name of Pandu. Satyavati again begged of the Rishi another child, and the Rishi told her in reply, 'So be it.' Ambalika, then, when her time came, brought forth a son of pale complexion. Blazing with beauty the child was endued with all auspicious marks. Indeed, it was this child who afterwards became the father of those mighty bowmen, the Pandavas.
"Some time after, when the oldest of Vichitravirya's widows (Ambika) again had her monthly season, she was requested by Satyavati to approach Vyasa once again. Possessed of beauty like a daughter of a Deva, the princess (Ambika) refused to do her mother-in-law's bidding, remembering the unattractive looks and strong odour of the Rishi. She, however, sent to him, a maid of hers, endued with the beauty of an Apsara and decked with her own ornaments.
"When the Vyasa arrived, the maid rose up and saluted him. She waited upon him respectfully and took her seat near him when asked. O king (Janamejaya), the Maharishi of rigid vows, was well-pleased with her, and when he rose to go away, he addressed her and said, 'Friendly one, you shall no longer be a slave. Your child also shall be greatly fortunate and Dharmic, and the foremost of all intelligent men on earth!'
"O king (Janamejaya), the son thus fathered upon her (the maid) by Krishna-Dwaipayana (Vyasa) was afterwards known by the name of Vidura. He was thus the brother of Dhritarashtra and the illustrious Pandu. Vidura was free from desire and passion and was knowledgeable with the rules of government, and was the Dharmadeva born on earth under the curse of the illustrious Rishi Mandavya. Krishna-Dwaipayana (Maharishi Vyasa), when he met his mother (Satyavati) as before, informed her as to how he had been deceived by the eldest of the princesses (Ambika) and how he had fathered a son upon a Shudra woman. Having spoken thus to his mother the Rishi (Vyasa) disappeared from her sight.
"Thus were born, in the field of Vichitravirya, of Dwaipayana (Maharishi Vyasa) those sons of the splendour of divine children, those propagators of the Kuru race.'"
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