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According to Mahabharata and various mythological texts, Queen Bhadra became pregnant after lying with the dead body of her husband, King Vyushitashva
This remarkable story is referenced in the Mahabharata, as narrated by King Pandu, the father of the Pandavas, to his elder queen Kunti. (News18 Hindi)
You may have heard many unbelievable stories from the Mahabharata, but one tale that still astonishes people is about a queen who gave birth to seven sons after her husband’s death, all from her deceased husband. According to the story, the queen had intercourse with her husband’s dead body and conceived the children.
The king in question was Vyushitashva, known for his immense powers. This remarkable story is referenced in the Mahabharata, as narrated by King Pandu, the father of the Pandavas, to his elder queen Kunti.
Pandu, cursed to die instantly if he ever had intercourse with his wife, was devastated by his inability to father children. The curse befell him after he unknowingly killed a pair of mating deer, who were actually sages in disguise. Pandu then renounced his kingdom and went to live in the forest with his two wives, Kunti and Madri.
One day, Pandu, worried about not having heirs, privately asked Kunti to find a way to have children. It was accepted that women could have children with a Brahmin or a man from the same caste in such circumstances. Afterall, Pandu himself, along with Dhritarashtra and Vidura, had been born through a union with sage Vyasa under similar circumstances.
How Did A Dead King Father Seven Sons?
Kunti recounted to Pandu the tale of King Vyushitashva, who fathered seven sons with his wife even after death. This story is detailed in Rajshekhar Basu’s Mahabharata, a popular Bengali version. It is also mentioned in Mahabharata: Volume 1 by Penguin (page 148), and Mahabharata Adi Parva English Part 2 by Kaushiki Books.
According to these texts, Queen Bhadra, wife of Vyushitashva, became pregnant after lying with the dead body of her husband, as guided by a celestial voice. Kunti suggested to Pandu that if Queen Bhadra could bear children through such divine intervention, perhaps she too could conceive a son using the power of penance and mantras. However, Pandu replied that Vyushitashva was god-like, and he himself lacked such powers.
Who Were King Vyushitashva And Queen Bhadra?
Vyushitashva was the son of King Shankhana of the Chandravanshi (Lunar dynasty). He married Bhadra, daughter of King Kakshivat, famed for her beauty. Vyushitashva is described in the Mahabharata as a righteous king who performed great sacrifices, including one attended by celestial gods led by Indra. He expanded his dominion through Ashwamedha yagnas and donated generously to Brahmins.
He and Queen Bhadra had no children, and when he died prematurely, Bhadra was heartbroken and resolved to die with him. However, a celestial voice stopped her, instructing her to lie with the king’s body on the eighth or fourteenth night of her menstrual cycle. Obeying the voice, she conceived and gave birth to seven sons.
Queen’s Sorrow And the Celestial Voice
As written in Chapter 120 of the Mahabharata’s Adi Parva and cited in various mythological encyclopaedias, Bhadra continued to weep while holding her husband’s lifeless body. At that moment, the soul of Vyushitashva spoke to her, saying, “My beloved, lie with me on your bed on the eighth or fourteenth day of your menstruation. I shall grant you a son.” Following these divine instructions, Bhadra conceived and delivered seven sons.
Pandu’s Words Inspire Kunti
Motivated by this story, Kunti told Pandu she could invoke a deity or a Brahmin through the power of mantras to have a child. Pandu agreed. Thus, Kunti bore Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna through her invocations. She later shared this knowledge with Madri, Pandu’s second wife, who then gave birth to Nakul and Sahadeva.
What Science Says
Interestingly, modern science does not dismiss this ancient tale outright. According to a study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, scientists claim that sperm can be used for conception up to 48 hours after a man’s death. It can be extracted surgically and preserved in a sperm bank. This lends some credibility to the Mahabharata tale, suggesting that certain so-called “miracles” from ancient times may, under specific conditions, be scientifically plausible.
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