Pandu

One-line: father of the Pandavas, whose curse shapes the whole Mahabharata family line.

First appears: Book 2, in Book 2 retelling.

Who they are: Pandu is one of Vyasa’s sons in the Kuru line and the legal father of the Pandavas. His hunting curse prevents ordinary fatherhood, which is why Kunti’s mantra and divine fathers enter the story. The Devi Bhagavatam uses Pandu mainly to connect Janamejaya back to the Mahabharata.

What they do that matters:

• Is born through Vyasa and Ambalika.
• Receives a curse that makes sexual union fatal.
• Becomes legal father of Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.

Other names: None in this storybook layer.

Family / lineage (when relevant): Son of Vyasa and Ambalika; husband of Kunti and Madri.