Shloka 76
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
पाण्डुस्तु पुनरेवैनां पुत्रलोभान्महायशा: । वक्तुमैच्छद् धर्मपत्नीं कुन्ती त्वेममथाब्रवीत्,तदनन्तर महायशस्वी राजा पाण्डु पुत्र-लोभसे आकृष्ट हो अपनी धर्मपत्नी कुन्तीसे फिर कुछ कहना चाहते थे, किंतु कुन्ती उन्हें रोकती हुई बोली--
pāṇḍus tu punar evaināṁ putralobhān mahāyaśāḥ | vaktum aicchad dharmapatnīṁ kuntī tv enam athābravīt |
قال فايشَمبايانا: إن باندو ذا المجد، وقد استبدّ به من جديد شوقُه إلى الأبناء، أراد أن يزيد كلاماً لزوجته الشرعية كونتي. غير أن كونتي كفّته وخاطبته قائلة—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal desire (longing for progeny) and dharma (right conduct within marriage and moral consequence). Kuntī’s intervention signals restraint and deliberation rather than being driven solely by craving.
Pāṇḍu, again overwhelmed by the desire for sons, is about to speak further to Kuntī. Before he can continue, Kuntī stops him and begins to respond, marking a shift where her counsel or decision will guide the next events.