Why was Dhritarashtra blind?

Question

Why was Dhritarashtra blind?

Was it to do with something in his past life? I have heard that his mother closed her eyes during niyog and therefore he became blind. Is that the only reason or something to do with his past life?

Answer 1

Why was Dhritarashtra blind? Was it to do with something in his past life?

Short answer

Any existence of present life can be mapped to the past life. However I could not yet find scripture backup of any curse on DhritarAshtra. In Adi Parva, it simply mentions the fault of his mother Ambika:

Dhritarashtra born of the seed of Krishna-Dwaipayana, and gifted with long arms and great energy, also a monarch, of the prophetic eye, became blind in consequence of the fault of his mother and the wrath of the Rishi.

Actually Vidura was born due to a curse, as discussed in this answer.

Long Answer

Queen Satyavati had ordered his son VyAsa to beget children to both widows of his deceased son Vichitravirya. When VyAsa visited his mother, he was under the influence of ascetic penace & hence was not ready for the union with a woman who is still under the influence of worldly matters. But his mother Satyavati was adamant about begetting a son from widows, as the HastinApura throne was without any king. From Adi parva:

Vyasa, hearing this, said, 'O Satyavati, ... Let the ladies then duly observe for one full year the vow I indicate. They shall then be purified. No women shall ever approach me without having observed a rigid vow.'
Satyavati then said, 'O sinless one, it must be as thou sayest. Take such steps that the ladies may conceive immediately. In a kingdom where there is no king, the people perish from want of protection

VyAsa knew that due to his attire and smelly body, a woman might have adverse mindset during the Niyoga ritual. This would affect the new born child in positive or negative way.

Vyasa replied, 'If I am to give unto my brother children so unseasonably, then let the ladies bear my ugliness. That in itself shall, in their case, be the austerest of penances. If the princess of Kosala can bear my strong odour, my ugly and grim visage, my attire and body, she shall then conceive an excellent child.'

But as expected most likely neither of AmbikA or AmbalikA could face the Rishi VyAsa with peaceful mind. Hence whatever were there bodily symptoms at the time of mating, were passed to their sons in their womb:

Then the Rishi of truthful speech, who had given his promise in respect of Amvika (the eldest of the princesses) in the first instance, entered her chamber while the lamp was burning. The princess, seeing his dark visage, his matted locks of copper hue, blazing eyes, his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear. The Rishi, from desire of accomplishing his mother's wishes, however knew her. But the latter, struck with fear, opened not her eyes even once to look at him. And when Vyasa came out, he was met by his mother, who asked him, 'Shall the princess have an accomplished son?' Hearing her, he replied, 'The son of the princess she will bring forth shall be equal in might unto ten thousand elephants. He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of great learning and intelligence and energy. The high-souled one shall have in his time a century of sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall be blind

Additionally, Satyavati had asked to pregnant the 2nd queen AmbAlika. But she became pale seeing the attire of VyAsa. Hence PAndu was born with similar features.

And Ambalika beholding the Rishi, became pale with fear And, O Bharata, beholding her so afflicted and pale with fear, Vyasa addressed her and said, 'Because thou hast been pale with fear at the sight of my grim visage, therefore, thy child shall be pale in complexion. O thou of handsome face, the name also thy child shall bear will be Pandu (the pale).'

_{Note: It's doesn't happen always that, if a woman closes her eyes or become pale while sexual congress, then her child will become likewise. But since the VyAsa was of great merit, the severe influence took place. In general it's well known fact that, whatever mother thinks during pregnancy, the child has similar virtues.}

Answer 2

Dhritarashtra was born to Ambika and Veda Vyas through Niyoga method as her husband Vichitravirya died by that time. During that process Ambika closed her eyes looking at the appearance of Rishi Veda Vyas. Because of this reason he was born as blind. His brothers were Pandu king and Vidura who were also born to Veda Vyas. Ambalika gave birth to pandu and during that time she was also scared looking at Ved Vyas, but she did not close her eyes, though she was shocked .. that's why pandu was born in pale color. While Ambalika servant Parishrami, felt so happy to be blessed to have a child through Veda Vyas and participated in niyoga with complete acceptance . For which she was blessed with a most dharmik son Vidura.

Dhritarashtra is one of the many snakes incarnation. He was the son of Kadruva in the form of snake. He along with all his brothers were cursed by her mom Kadruva for not obeying the words of her. "Sesha was born first, and then Vasuki. (Then were born) Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, ... Dhritarashtra, Sankhapinda, Virajas, Suvahu, Salipinda, Prabhakara, etc were born. These are the names described in the Aadi Parva: "Sesha was born first, and then Vasuki. (Then were born) Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Kalakeya, the serpent Mani, Purana, Pinjaraka, and Elapatra, Vamana, Nila, Anila, Kalmasha, Savala, Aryaka, Ugra, Kalasapotaka, Suramukha, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Karotaka, Samkha, Valisikha, Nisthanaka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Vahyakarna, Hastipada, Mudgarapindaka, Kamvala Aswatara, Kaliyaka, Vritta, Samvartaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Sankhamukha, Kushmandaka, Kshemaka, Pindaraka, Karavira, Pushpadanshtraka, Vilwaka, Vilwapandara, Mushikada, Sankhasiras, Purnabhadra, Haridraka, Aparajita, Jyotika, Srivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Sankhapinda, Virajas, Suvahu, Salipinda, Prabhakara, Hastipinda, Pitharaka, Sumuksha, Kaunapashana, Kuthara, Kunjara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittri, Halika, Kardama, Vahumulaka, Karkara, Akarkara, Kundodara, and Mahodara.