Muni Suka returned from Mithilapura a changed person and to the greatest delight of his father, married the daughter of a Muni named Pivari and they had four sons and a daughter all of whom were happy in their weddings too. Maha Muni selected Mount Kailash subsequently to practise higher disciplines of Yoga, achieved Siddhies of Anima, Laghima and so on and finally ascended further from the top of Mount Kailasa to realise self-realisation to join the Supreme Bhagavati. As Veda Vyasa got shaken up from his son’s absence and practised heavy penance targetting Maheswara as the embodiment of Tamas Guna, the Lord appeared and gave him the boon that he could always find Suka in his own shadow!
After the departure of his son, Veda Vyasa was a frustrated person and carried on with his disciples Asita, Devala, Vaisampayana, Jaimini, Sumanta and others and after their studies were over, he despatched them with the tasks of propagating Dharma all over. He left Meru Mountain to meet his mother Satyavati from whom he left long ago on the banks of Ganges. He realised that his mother was married to the King of Hastinapur, Santanu on the condition that another son of his, Bhishma born from his first wife Ganga, would neither marry nor beget a child since there shold not be any progeny to claim the throne. Shantanu and Satyavati gave birth to Chitrangada and Vichitra-Virya. After Shantanu died, Chitrangada became the King but in a war with Gandharvas, Chitrangada died and Vichitravirya was made the King. Bhishma desired that Vichitravirya be married as he was eligible and when the King of Kasi announced a ‘Swayamvara’ (bride’s choice among the Invited Kings), Bhishma forcibly took away three brides- Amba, Ambika and Ambalika to Hastinapura. On arrival, Amba requested that since she already selected the King of Salva at the Svayamvara, she might be please allowed to do so and Bhishma agreed. But the King of Salva did not agree and as she returned back insisting that as per Dharma Bhishma must marry her. Since Bhishma did not agree that even earlier, Amba left for the forest and became an ascetic. King Vichitravirya married Ambika and Ambalika but was not able to extend the progeny and died of premature death. Then came up a crisis of Kingship falling vacant without a heir. Satyavati called for Vedavyasa who was settled on the banks of River Sarasvati to help continue the lineage through Ambika and Ambalika. Ambika closed her eyes in bed with Veda Vyasa as she was not happy with the union and thus a blind boy, Dhrita- rashtra was delivered. Ambalika sent a Servant woman into the bed and a wise boy, Vidura was born. But when the mistake was realised and Ambalika had to go into the bed, she was too frightened into paleness afraid of the Maha Muni and thus was born Pandu. No doubt Pandu became the King before his elder brother who was born blind but since he died of early death due to illness, Dhritarashtra the blind had to be the King.
