Women in Mahabharata - Madayanti
T.W. Gore
She is the wife of the king Saudaasa Kalmaashapaada of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
When Saudasa is cursed and driven from his kingdom by Vashishtha, Madayanti is made to have a child with Vashishtha who is named Ashmaka, who is an ancestor of Rama.
When her body wouldn't go into active labour at the right time, she cut open her own belly with a sharp stone, and thus her son was named Ashmaka or 'born of a stone'. He grew up to establish his capital in the city named Paudanya.
Her example too is used by Pandu to convince Kunti to use her boon from Durvasa to have the Pandavas.












