It was due to a curse that Pandu abdicated the throne of
Hastinapur to Dhritarashtra and left for forest. Kunti and Madri, his wives
also gave up the palace and went with him to forest.
During a hunting expedition, Pandu struck an antelope with
his arrow.
He had struck the antelope while it was mating with a doe.
The antelope was Sage Kindama and the doe was his wife. To make love freely in
the open, they had used their yogic powers to turn themselves into animals.
Before dying Sage Kindama cursed Pandu that since he killed
him while he was making love to a woman, Pandu would never know the pleasure of
lovemaking. If Pandu touches a woman, he would die instantly.
After the curse, he decided to live as hermit. He abdicated
the throne of Hastinapur to Dhritarashtra as he could no longer father a child
and therefore he could not carry forward the Kuru clan.