the eldest son. The throne went to Pandu, the younger brother of Dhritarashtra. After being cursed by Sage Kindama, Pandu renounced his kingdom in order to repent. With this turn of events, her husband was crowned King of Hastinapura and she became his queen. Pregnancy and birth of her children Once, an exhausted Veda Vyasa came to Gandhari's palace. Vyasa was impressed by Gandhari's hospitality and gave her a boon which she desired that "she should have century of sons each equal unto her lord in strength and accomplishments". She became pregnant but carried the child for an unusual long period of two years. Later, when she heard that Kunti (queen of king Pandu, younger brother of Dhritarashtra) had given birth to the eldest of the Pandavas, she strucked on her stomach in frustration only to result in the birth of a "hard mass of flesh" like an "iron ball,” not a child. Just as she was about to throw away the mass of flesh, Veda Vyasa arrived (knowing every occurrence with his spiritual power). Before Vyasa, she admitted her jealousy of Kunti and complained about the boon he had given her. Veda Vyasa assured her that he had never spoken "untruth" and ordered that a "hundred pots full of clarified butter be brought instantly, and let them be placed at a concealed spot. In the meantime, let cool water be sprinkled over this ball of flesh". During this process, Gandhari professed her wish of having a daughter to the ascetic; the daughter, Dushala, would be youngest of her all children. The lump of flesh was originally cut into one hundred parts, but when Gandhari revealed she wanted a daughter the mass was cut once more to make one hundred and one parts. Then, Vyasa "brought another pot full of clarified butter, and put the part intended for a daughter into it." These cuts of flesh "sprinkled over with water" developed to become a hundred and one children; from which after two years, her hundred sons and only daughter were born in a month. After the birth of her first son Duryodhana, many ill omens occurred: the child "began to cry and bray like an ass” and caused "violent winds" and "fires in various directions." A frightened Dhritarashtra summoned Vidura, Bhishma and all other Kurus and countless Brahmanas regarding his firstborn's possibility of succession to the throne. Observing ill omens,