Shloka 49

Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra

Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins

Devanagari script

बालद्विजसुहृन्मित्रपितृभ्रातृगुरुद्रुह: । न मे स्यान्निरयान्मोक्षो ह्यपि वर्षायुतायुतै: ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

bāla-dvija-suhṛn-mitra- pitṛ-bhrātṛ-guru-druhaḥ na me syān nirayān mokṣo hy api varṣāyutāyutaiḥ

Translation

Ich habe viele Knaben, Brahmanen, Wohlgesinnte, Freunde, Eltern, Lehrer und Brüder getötet. Auch in Millionen von Jahren werde ich nicht von der Hölle befreit werden.

Synonyms

• बाल-द्विज-सुहृद्-मित्र-पितृ-भ्रातृ-गुरु-द्रुहः: betrayer of children, brāhmaṇas, friends, allies, father, brothers, and teachers
• बाल-द्विज-सुहृद्-मित्र-पितृ-भ्रातृ-गुरु-द्रुहः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल + द्विज + सुहृद् + मित्र + पितृ + भ्रातृ + गुरु + द्रुह् (धातु) → द्रुह (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—(बालान्/बालस्य) (द्विजान्) (सुहृदः) (मित्राणि) (पितॄन्) (भ्रातॄन्) (गुरून्) द्रुह्यति इति ‘द्रुह्’ = ‘betrayer/traitor’; बहुपदसमासः

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• मे: for me
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Possessor/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन (मम)

• स्यात्: may there be/would be
• स्यात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• निरयात्: from hell
• निरयात्: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• मोक्षः: liberation
• मोक्षः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive particle)

• वर्ष-अयुत-अयुतैः: by tens of millions of years
• वर्ष-अयुत-अयुतैः: करण/अधिकरण (Measure of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + अयुत + अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः—अयुत-अयुतानि वर्षाणि (ten-thousand times ten-thousand years)

Purport

Whenever there is a war, there is certainly a massacre of many innocent living beings, such as boys, brāhmaṇas and women, whose killing is considered to be the greatest of sins. They are all innocent creatures, and in all circumstances killing of them is forbidden in the scriptures. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was aware of these mass killings. Similarly, there were friends, parents and preceptors also on both sides, and all of them were killed. It was simply horrible for him to think of such killing, and therefore he was thinking of residing in hell for millions and billions of years.

Characters & Entities

• Queen Kuntī

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offending a guru or a brāhmaṇa?

This verse shows Kuntīdevī’s grave warning: betrayal or harm toward one’s guru or brāhmaṇas is a severe offense that can obstruct liberation and lead to prolonged suffering.

Why did Queen Kuntī speak about not wanting moksha if she had committed offenses?

In her prayers, Kuntī emphasizes moral and devotional integrity—she would rather accept suffering than be freed while carrying the burden of betrayal toward revered and protected persons.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Practice careful speech and conduct, especially toward teachers, elders, and those who support you; when mistakes happen, seek forgiveness, make amends, and cultivate humility to avoid harmful relationships and spiritual setbacks.