Pandu, in the Mahabharata, is a pivotal character whose life and actions form a significant backstory for the epic tale. Born into the Kuru dynasty of ancient Indian kings, Pandu ascends the throne of Hastinapura after his elder brother, Dhritarashtra, is deemed unfit due to his blindness.

Further on, Pandu accidentally kills a sage while hunting, and is cursed to perish if he engages in sexual intercourse. This pivotal moment proves crucial, leading him to retire from his royal duties, choosing a life of asceticism in the forest with his two wives, Kunti and Madri. Still, he desires descendants to sustain the dynasty.

With a boon from sage Durvasa, his first wife Kunti is able to invoke various celestial deities, thereby bearing three sons, namely Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna. She later shares the boon with Madri, who bears the twins Nakula and Sahadeva.

Showing unparalleled moral responsibility, despite his tragic curse, Pandu lays the groundwork for the growth of the noble Pandava lineage, eventually leading to the central conflict of the Mahabharata.