Identities of the Characters - Which Devas and Asuras descended on Earth?

 Introduction

In the 65th Chapter, Ādivaṁśāvataraṇa Parva, of the Adi Parva, it starts as follows - 

 Paraśurāma massacres the Kṣatriyas in twenty-one savage encounters, so the Earth is rid entirely of the race of kings, and then he makes his way to Mahendra Giri, and sits there in tapasya to expiate his sins of violence. When Paraśurāma has exterminated the Kṣatriya men, thousands of women of the royal race resort to Brāhmaṇa men, austere Rishis, in order to have sons. 

The Kṣatriya women conceive and give birth to countless children, sons and daughters, of great vitality and lustre, and it seems that Kṣatriya kind will flourish once more. 

This is the new generation of the Kṣatriya race, sired by Brāhmaṇas of mighty tapasya. Then, the Asuras begin to take birth in the royal Houses. The sons of Aditī, the Devas, repeatedly crush the sons of Ditī, the Daityas, and those of Danū, the Dānavas, in battle. 

Their unearthly kingdoms lost, Svarga gone, the Demons begin to incarnate on Earth. The powerful Asuras, wanting sovereignty over Bhūmī, begin to be born not only among Kṣatriyas and other humans, but among all the species: as cows and bulls, horses, donkeys and asses, camels, buffaloes, among the Rākṣasas and the other magical races, among elephants and deer. 

Through the passage of the Yugas, owing to these demonic births, Bhūmī Devī’s burden of evil increases to the extent that she feels she cannot support the weight anymore and will plunge down into the Narakās, into hell. Some of the sons of Ditī and of Danū, cast out of heaven, are born on Earth as kings of terrible hubris. 

With terrific energy, the forces of evil swarm over the Earth in various forms and shapes. They teem in the world, from sea to sea.

Oppressed and ravaged by these unrestrained, powerful, wealthy and daily swelling legions of evil, Bhūmī Devī thinks in despair of Brahmā. Only the combined strength of awesome ones like Sesha Nāga, the Kūrma Avatāra and the great Diggajas is able to continue to support the weight of the Earth with her mountains and oceans.

She goes to Brahmā and explained the problem, then Brahmā commanded the Devatās to be born in Earth. 

अथ ते सर्वशोंशैः स्वैर्गन्तुं भूमिं कृतक्षणाः। नारायणममित्रघ्नं वैकुण्ठमुपचक्रमुः॥ यः स चक्रगदापाणिः पीतवासाः शितिप्रभः। पद्मनाभः सुरारिघ्नः पृथुचार्वञ्चितेक्षणः॥ प्रजापतिपतिर्देवः सुरनाथो महाबलः। श्रीवत्साङ्को हृषीकेशः सर्वदैवतपूजितः॥ तं भुवः शोधनायेन्द्र उवाच पुरुषोत्तमम्। अंशेनावतरेत्येवं तथेत्याह च तं हरिः॥ ॥ 1.65.51-54

Indra and his Devas decide they will do as Brahmā commands. They first go to Nārāyaṇa in Vaikuṇṭha (Wonderful Description is given in the Mūla Ślokas given above)

Indra says to that most exalted Puruṣa, ‘Lord, be incarnate!’ Śrī Hari replies, ‘Tathāstu! Be it so.’”

अथ नारायणेनेन्द्रश्चकार सह संविदम्। अवतर्तुं महीं स्वर्गादंशतः महितः सुरैः॥ आदिश्य च स्वयं शक्रः सर्वानेव दिवौकसः। निर्जगाम पुनस्तस्मात्क्षयान्नारायणस्य ह॥ तेऽमरारिविनाशाय सर्वलोकहिताय च। अवतेरुः क्रमेणैव महीं स्वर्गाद्दिवौकसः॥ ततो ब्रह्मर्षिवंशेषु पार्थिवर्षिकुलेषु च। जज्ञिरे राजशार्दूल यथाकामं दिवौकसः॥ दानवान्राक्षसांश्चैव गन्धर्वान्पन्नगांस्तथा। पुरुषादानि चान्यानि जघ्नुः सत्वान्यनेकशः॥दानवा राक्षसाश्चैव गन्धर्वाः पन्नगास्तथा। न तान्बलस्थान्बाल्येऽपि जघ्नुर्भरतसत्तम॥ 1.66.1-6 

Indra and Nārāyaṇa speak together about how He would be born on Earth, and how the Devas, too, would incarnate in aṁśa. When every Deva knows his role, Indra returns from Vaikuṇṭha. One by one, over time, the Devas are born on Earth in aṁśa to kill the Asuras already born there and to remove the burden of Bhūmī, Svarga and Pātala (the Tri-Lokās). They incarnate as they please as Kṣatriya kings, among the Brahmarishis and Rājarishis, and they kill the Asuras born as Rākṣasas and Gandharvas, as Nāgas, and as other dreadful creatures. The Dānavas cannot resist the avenging Devas, so mighty are the them.”

Then Janamejaya asked a question to explain the entire Birth Dynasty of the Devas and Asuras starting from Brahmā. Vaiśampāyana answered for the next 2 Adhyāyas.

Then, after this, The Original Identities of the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas are elaborated in detail.

Identities of the Kauravas and others

जनमेजय उवाच। देवानां दानवानां च गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। सिंहव्याघ्रमृगाणां च पन्नगानां पतत्त्रिणाम्॥ अन्येषां चैव भूतानां संभवं भगवन्नहम्। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वेन मानुषेषु महात्मनाम्। जन्म कर्म च भूतानामेतेषामनुपूर्वशः॥ 1.68.1-2

Janamejaya said, “Holy One, I want to hear in detail about the advent as men of the Devas, the Asuras, the Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, lions and tigers, the other animals, the Nāgas, the Pakṣīs, and indeed all creatures. I want to hear everything that they did when they had human forms.”

वैशम्पायन उवाच। मानुषेषु मनुष्येन्द्र संभूता ये दिवौकसः। प्रथमं दानवाश्चैव तांस्ते वक्ष्यामि सर्वशः॥ विप्रचित्तिरिति ख्यातो य आसीद्दानवर्षभः। जरासन्ध इति ख्यातः स आसीन्मनुजर्षभः॥ दितेः पुत्रस्तु यो राजन्हिरण्यकशिपुः स्मृतः। स जज्ञे मानुषे लोके शिशुपालो नरर्षभः॥ संह्लाद इति विख्यातः प्रह्लादस्यानुजस्तु यः। स शल्य इति विख्यातो जज्ञे बाह्रीकपुङ्गवः॥ अनुह्लादस्तु तेजस्वी योऽभूत्ख्यातो जघन्यजः। धृष्टकेतुरिति ख्यातः स बभूव नरेश्वरः॥ यस्तु राजञ्शिबिर्नाम दैतेयः परिकीर्तितः। द्रुम इत्यभिविख्यातः स आसीद्भुवि पार्थिवः॥ बाष्कलो नाम यस्तेषामासीदसुरसत्तमः। भगदत्त इति ख्यातः सं जज्ञे पुरुषर्षभः॥ 1.68.3-9

Vaiśampāyana said, “Lord of men, I will first tell you about the incarnations of the Devas and Dānavas that were born as men. 

The great Dānava Viprachitti (son of Danū, Grand-son of Dakṣa) is born as that bull among men, Jārasandha of Magadha. 

Ditī’s son, the Daitya Hiraṇyakaṣipu, is born as Sishupāla of Chedī. Saṃhlāda, the younger brother of Prahlāda, comes down as Śalya, that tiger amongst the Bālhīkas. The spirited Anuhlāda, the youngest, becomes Dhṛṣṭaketu.

The Daitya Sibi, incarnates as King Druma, while the great Asura Vaśkala becomes the mighty Bhagadatta.

गणः क्रोधवशो नाम यस्ते राजन्प्रकीर्तितः। ततः संजज्ञिरे वीराः क्षिताविह नराधिपाः॥ मद्रकः कर्णवेष्टश्च सिद्धार्थः कीटकस्तथा। सुवीरश्च सुबाहुश्च महावीरोऽथ बाह्लिकः॥ क्रथो विचित्रः सुरथः श्रीमान्नीलश्च भूमिपः। चीरवासाश्च कौरव्य भूमिपालश्च नामतः॥ दन्तवक्त्रश्च नामासीद्दुर्जयश्चैव दानवः। रुक्मी च नृपशार्दूलो राजा च जनमेजयः॥ आषाढो वायुवेगश्च भूरितेजास्तथैव च। एकलव्यः सुमित्रश्च वाटधानोऽथ गोमुखः॥ कारूषकाश्च राजानः क्षेमधूर्तिस्तथैव च। श्रुतायुरुद्वहश्चैव बृहत्सेनस्तथैव च॥ क्षेमोग्रतीर्थः कुहरः कलिङ्गेषु नराधिपः। मतिमांश्च मनुष्येन्द्र ईश्वरश्चेति विश्रुतः॥ गणात्क्रोधवशादेष राजपूगोऽभवत्क्षितौ। जातः पुरा महाभागो महाकीर्तिर्महाबलः॥ 1.68.59-66

We can see here that names like Ekalavya, Rukmī etc. are born, who are a race of Asuras called the ‘Krodhavaśa’

कालनेमिरिति ख्यातो दानवानां महाबलः। स कंस इति विख्यात उग्रसेनसुतो बली॥ यस्त्वासीद्देवको नाम देवराजसमद्युतिः। स गन्धर्वपतिर्मुख्यः क्षितौ जज्ञे नराधिपः॥ 1.68.67-68

A powerful Demon called Kālanemi is born as the son of Ugrasena of Mathurā, and he becomes Kaṁsa, the Great and the Terrible. The Asura Devaka, lustrous as Indra, is born into the world as a king of the Gandharvas.

बृहस्पतेर्बृहत्कीर्तेर्देवर्षेर्विद्धि भारत। अशाद्द्रोणं समुत्पन्नं भारद्वाजमयोनिजम्॥ धन्विनां नृपशार्दूल यः सर्वास्त्रविदुत्तमः। महाकीर्तिर्महातेजाः स जज्ञे मनुजेश्वर॥ धनुर्वेदे च वेदे च यं तं वेदविदो विदुः। वरिष्ठं चित्रकर्माणं द्रोणं स्वकुलवर्धनम्॥ महादेवान्तकाभ्यां च कामात्क्रोधाच्च भारत। एकत्वमुपसंपद्य जज्ञे शूरः परन्तपः॥ अश्वत्थामा महावीर्यः शत्रुपक्षभयावहः। वीरः कमलपत्राक्षः क्षितावासीन्नराधिपः॥ 1.68.69-73

Rājan, you must know that Bhāradvāja’s son Droṇa is not born from any woman, but is an aṁśāvatāra of Brihaspatī. 

He is a peerless archer, with power over every astra, of great tejas and greater achievements. He is also a master of the Vedas, the pride of his kind. 

O King, Droṇa’s son is the heroic Aśvatthāma, his eyes like lotus-petals, a terror to his enemies, of tremendous energy, is an aṁśāvatāra of equal embodiments of Śiva, Yama, Kāma and Krodha.

जज्ञिरे वसवस्त्वष्टौ गङ्गायां शन्तनोः सुताः। वसिष्ठस्य च शापेन नियोगाद्वासवस्य च॥ तेषामवरजो भीष्मः कुरूणामभयङ्करः। मतिमान्वेदविद्वाग्मी शत्रुपक्षक्षयङ्करः॥ जामदग्न्येन रामेण सर्वास्त्रविदुषां वरः। योऽप्युध्यत महातेजा भार्गवेण महात्मना॥ यस्तु राजन्कृपो नाम ब्रह्मर्षिरभवत्क्षितौ। रुद्राणां तु गणाद्विद्धि संभूतमतिपौरुषम्॥ 1.68.74-77

Because of Vasiṣṭha’s curse and also Indra’s dictate, the eight Vasus are born into the world as the sons of Gangā and Shāntanu. The youngest Vasu, Prabhasa, is Bhīṣma, of the grand vow. 

He is the light of the House of Kurū, a knower of the Vedas, of lofty intellect, the most eloquent speaker, who melts the legions of his enemies in battle. Why, Jamadagni’s son Paraśurāma Bhārgava could not vanquish Bhīṣma when he fought a duel with him. 

The Brāhmaṇa Sage Kṛpācharya, a man among men, is an aṁśāvatāra of the Rudras.

शकुनिर्नाम यस्त्वासीद्राजा लोके महारथः। द्वापरं विद्धि तं राजन्संभूतमरिमर्दनम्॥ सात्यकिः सत्यसन्धश्च योऽसौ वृष्णिकुलोद्वहः। पक्षात्स जज्ञे मरुतां देवानामरिमर्दनः॥ द्रुपदश्चैव राजर्षिस्तत एवाभवद्गणात्। मानुषे नृप लोकेऽस्मिन्सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः॥ ततश्च कृतवर्माणं विद्धि राजञ्जनाधिपम्। तमप्रतिमकर्माणं क्षत्रियर्षभसत्तमम्॥ मरुतां तु गणाद्विद्धि संजातमरिमर्दनम्। विराटं नाम राजानं परराष्ट्रप्रतापनम्॥ 1.68.78-82

Śakuni, O King, who crushed his foes, is none other than Dvāpara, the third Yuga incarnate! 

Sātyaki, pride of the Vṛṣṇīs, whose aim never falters, is an aṁśāvatāra, an incarnation of the Maruts, who are Vāyu’s companions. 

The Rājarishi, the Pāñcāla King Drupada, greatest among bowmen, is also an incarnation of the Maruts, as indeed is the Vṛṣṇī Kṛtavarman, that bull among bulls among Kṣatriyas; so, too, is King Virāta.

अरिष्टायास्तु यः पुत्रो हंस इत्यभिविश्रुतः। स गन्धर्वपतिर्जज्ञे कुरुवंशविवर्धनः॥ धृतराष्ट्र इति ख्यातः कृष्णद्वैपायनात्मजः। दीर्घबाहुर्महातेजाः प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नराधिपः॥ मातुर्दोषादृषेः कोपादन्ध एव व्यजायत॥  `मरुतां तु गणाद्वीरः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। पाण्डुर्जज्ञे महाबाहुस्तव पूर्वपितामहः।' तस्यैवावरजो भ्राता महासत्वो महाबलः॥  धर्मात्तु सुमहाभागं पुत्रं पुत्रवतां वरम्। विदुरं विद्धि तं लोके जातं बुद्धिमतां वरम्॥ 1.68.83-86

Ariṣṭa’s son Haṃsa is also born into the clan of the Kurus and becomes a king of the Gandharvas. Dhṛtarāśtra, born of the seed of Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyaṇa, and blessed with long and mighty arms and unrivalled strength, he of prophetic vision, is blind because of his mother’s indelicacy and the consequent anger of the Rishi Vyāsa. 

Pāṇḍu is Dhṛtarāśtra’s younger brother, of prowess that defies description, devout and truthful and powerful. Their brother Vidura, I have told you, O King, is an Avatāra of the son of Maharishi Atri: Dharma, Lord of Righteousness and Justice.

कलेरंशस्तु संजज्ञे भुवि दुर्योधनो नृपः। दुर्बद्धिर्दुर्मतिश्चैव कुरूणामयशस्करः॥ जगतो यस्तु सर्वस्य विद्विष्टः कलिपूरुषः। यः सर्वां घातयामास पृथिवीं पृथिवीपते॥ उद्दीपितं येन वैरं भूतान्तकरणं महत्। पौलस्त्या भ्रातरश्चास्य जज्ञिरे मनुजेष्विह॥ शतं दुःशासनादीनां सर्वेषां क्रूरकर्मणाम्। दुर्मुखो दुःसहश्चैव ये चान्ये नानुकीर्तिताः॥ दुर्योधनसहायास्ते पौलस्त्या भरतर्षभ। 1.68.87-91

As for Duryodhana, incalculably evil king, who ruins the honour of the Kuruvaṁśa, he is an aṁśāvatāra of the Kali Yuga, the Demon Kali Puruṣa. He is the cause of the Great War that devastated the Earth; he lit the fire that finally consumed everything. 

The Rākṣasas, who are once born as the sons of Pulastya Muni, now take birth as Duryodhana’s hundred evil brothers, Duḥśāsana being the first of them. Durmukha, Duḥsaha and others of these hundred, who always supported Duryodhana’s most treacherous and murderous schemes, are all sons of the same Pulastya Muni.

धर्मस्यांशं तु राजानं विद्धि राजन्युधिष्ठिरम्॥  भीमसेनं तु वातस्य देवराजस्य चार्जुनम्। अश्विनोस्तु तथैवांशौ रूपेणाप्रतिमौ भुवि॥ नकुलः सहदेवश्च सर्वभूतमनोहरौ। स्युवर्चा इति ख्यातः सोमपुत्रः प्रतापवान्॥ सोऽभिमन्युर्बृहत्कीर्तिरर्जुनस्य सुतोऽभवत्। यस्यावतरणे राजन्सुरान्सोमोऽब्रवीदिदम्॥ नाहं दद्यां प्रियं पुत्रं मम प्राणैर्गरीयसम्। समयः क्रियतामेष न शक्यमतिवर्तितुम्॥ सुरकार्यं हि नः कार्यमसुराणां क्षितौ वधः। तत्र यास्यत्ययं वर्चा न च स्थास्यति वै चिरम्॥ 1.68.110-115

O King, Yudhiṣṭhira is an aṁśa of Dharma; Bhīmasena of Vāyu; Arjuna of Indra; Nakula and Sahadeva, handsomest of men, their looks unrivalled on Earth, of the Aśvin twins. Soma Deva’s son, Varchas the strong, becomes Arjuna’s son of stunning genius, the dashing Abhimanyu. 

Why Abhimanyu lived a short Life

When Varchas is to be born, Soma says to the other Devas, “I cannot live without my son. So let him incarnate on Bhūmī, but live a short human life before returning to me after killing countless Daityas. 

ऐन्द्रिर्नरस्तु भविता यस्य नारायणः सखा। सोर्जुनेत्यभिविख्यातः पाण्डोः पुत्रः प्रतापवान्॥ तस्यायं भविता पुत्रो बालो भुवि महारथः। ततः षोडशवर्षाणि स्थास्यत्यमरसत्तमाः॥ अस्य षोडशवर्षस्य स सङ्ग्रामो भविष्यति। यत्रांशा वः करिष्यन्ति कर्म वीरनिषूदनम्॥ 1.68.116-118

Nara, whose companion is Nārāyaṇa, will be born as Indra’s son Arjuna, the Pāṇḍava. Let my Varchas be born as Arjuna’s son and become a Mahāratha. 

Let him be away on Earth for sixteen years, and when he is sixteen the Great War (Kurukṣetra) shall be fought, and, Devas, all your aṁśāvatāras shall raze the Asuras and the very race of Kṣatriyas.”

नरनारायणाभ्यां तु स सङ्ग्रामो विनाकृतः। चक्रव्यूहं समास्थाय योधयिष्यन्ति वःसुराः॥ विमुखाञ्छात्रवान्सर्वान्कारयिष्यति मे सुतः। बालः प्रविश्य च व्यूहमभेद्यं विचरिष्यति॥ महारथानां वीराणां कदनं च करिष्यति। सर्वेषामेव शत्रूणां चतुर्थांशं नयिष्यति॥ दिनार्धेन महाबाहुः प्रेतराजपुरं प्रति। ततो महारथैर्वीरैः समेत्य बहुशो रणे॥ दिनक्षये महाबाहुर्मया भूयः समेष्यति। एकं वंशकरं पुत्रं वीरं वै जनयिष्यति॥ प्रनष्टं भारतं वंशं स भूयो धारयिष्यति। 

वैशम्पायन उवाच। एतत्सोमवचः श्रुत्वा तथास्त्विति दिवौकसः॥  प्रत्यूचुः सहिताः सर्वे ताराधिपमपूजयन्। एवं ते कथितं राजंस्तव जन्म पितुः पितुः॥ 1.68.119-125

Yet, one day during the war, a great encounter will occur inside a cunning Chakravyuha. Krishna and Arjuna, Nara Narayana, will not have part in that battle, but my son shall pierce the impenetrable spinning wheel of warriors and take devastation to the enemy. On his own, my son will send a quarter of the entire enemy army to Yama’s realm, in the space of half a day. 

None will be able to stand before him, but finally, near dusk, a ring of Maharathas will combine to slay my mighty child with treachery, and Varchas shall return to me. Abhimanyu will beget the single heir to the Kuru throne, and prevent the royal line of Bharata from becoming extinct.’ The Devas assent, ‘So be it.’ Why, they applaud him all together and offer him worship, that Lord of the stars. This, Rajan, of course, is the story behind the birth of your father’s father.

अग्नेर्भागं तु विद्धि त्वं धृष्टद्युम्नं महारथण्। शिखण्डिनमथो राजंस्त्रीपूर्वं विद्धि राक्षसम्॥ द्रौपदेयाश्च ये पञ्च बभूवुर्भरतर्षभ। विश्वान्देवगणान्विद्धि संजातान्भरतर्षभ॥ प्रतिविन्ध्यः सुतसोमः श्रुतकीर्तिस्तथापरः। नाकुलिस्तु शतानीकः श्रुतसेनश्च वीर्यवान्॥ 1.68.126-128

The fireborn Mahāratha Dhṛṣṭadyumna is an aṁśa of Agni. Prince Śikhandin, who was once a princess, is the aṁśāvatāra of a Rākṣasa. 

The Celestial Rishis are born as the five sons of Draupadī – Prativindhya, Sutasoma, Śrutakīrti, Satānīka and Śrutasena, endowed with terrific energy.

स तु सूतकुले वीरो ववृधे राजसत्तम। कर्णं नरवरश्रेष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्॥ दुर्योधनस्य सचिवं मित्रं शत्रुविनाशनम्। दिवाकरस्य तं विद्धि राजन्नंशमनुत्तमम्॥ यस्तु नारायणो नाम देवदेवः सनातनः। तस्यांशो मानुषेष्वासीद्वासुदेवः प्रतापवान्॥  शेषस्यांशश्च नागस्य बलदेवो महाबलः। सनत्कुमारं प्रद्युम्नं विद्धि राजन्महौजसम्॥ एवमन्ये मनुष्येन्द्रा बहवोंशा दिवौकसाम्। जज्ञिरे वसुदेवस्य कुले कुलविवर्धनाः॥ 1.68.149-153

Later, O King, Karṇa, noblest of men, greatest of archers, slayer of his enemies, the finest aṁśa of Sūryadeva, becomes the closest companion and advisor of Duryodhana, the Kaurava. Then there is born into the world Vāsudeva Śrī Kṛṣṇa, indomitable Supreme God and unrivalled in every way, an Avatāra of Nārāyaṇa, Devadeva the Eternal One. His brother Baladeva is an aṁśa of Seśa Nāga.

Rājan, mighty Pradyumna is Sanatkumāra incarnate. Many other dwellers in Svarga incarnate themselves in the race of the Vṛṣṇīs, swelling its glory.

गणस्त्वप्सरसां यो वै मया राजन्प्रकीर्तितः। तस्य भागः क्षितौ जज्ञे नियोगाद्वासवस्य ह॥ तानि षोडशदेवीनां सहस्राणि नराधिप। बभूवुर्मानुषे लोके वासुदेवपरिग्रहः॥ श्रियस्तु भागः संजज्ञे रत्यर्थं पृथिवीतले। भीष्मकस्य कुले साध्वी रुक्मिणी नाम नामतः॥ 1.68.154-156

And, O King, the portions of the tribe of Apsarās which I have mentioned already, also becomes incarnate on Earth according to Indra’s commands.  And sixteen thousand portions of those goddesses become, in this world of humans, the wives of Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa. And Śrī herself becomes incarnate on Earth, for the gratification of Nārāyaṇa, in the line of Bhīṣmaka. She is the chaste Rukminī.

द्रौपदी त्वथ संजज्ञे शची भागादनिन्दिता। द्रुपदस्य कुले जाता वेदिमध्यादनिन्दिता॥ नातिह्रस्वा न महती नीलोत्पलसुगन्धिनी। पद्मायताक्षी सुश्रोणी स्वसिताञ्चितमूर्धजा॥  सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना वैदूर्यमणिसंनिभा। पञ्चानां पुरुषेन्द्राणां चित्तप्रमथनी रहः॥ सिद्धिर्धृतिश्च ये देव्यौ पञ्चानां मातरौ तु ते। कुन्ती माद्री च जज्ञाते मतिस्तु सुबलात्मजा॥ 1.68.157-160

And the faultless Draupadī, slender-waisted like the wasp, is born of a portion of Śachī (the queen of the Devas), in the line of Drupada. She is neither short nor tall; she is of the fragrance of the blue lotus, of eyes large as lotus-petals, of thighs fair and round, of dense masses of black curly hair. And endowed with every auspicious feature and her complexion like that of the emerald, she enchants and steals the hearts of the five Pāṇdavas, greatest among men of the world.

The two goddesses Siddhī and Dhṛtī are born as Kuntī and Mādrī to become the mothers of those five. The Devī Matī incarnates as Gāndharī, daughter of Subāla, who becomes blind Dhṛtarāśtra’s wife.

इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आदिपर्वणि संभवपर्वणि अष्टषष्टितमोऽध्यायः॥ 68 ॥ 

Conclusion

These are the respective Devas and Asuras, who came to Earth during the Dvāpara Yuga. 

In the very final chapter of the Mahābhārata also, we can infer to what was said above, as they go to their respective places after their Deaths in Svarga.