Shloka 8
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 116 — Pāṇḍu’s Transgression of the Curse and Mādrī’s Final Charge
घृतपूर्णेषु कुण्डेषु एकैकं प्राक्षिपत् तदा । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे साध्वी गान्धारी सुदृढव्रता,वैशम्पायनजीने कहा--पाण्डवनन्दन! तुमने यह बहुत अच्छा प्रश्न पूछा है। मैं तुम्हें इसका उत्तर देता हूँ। महातपस्वी भगवान् व्यासने स्वयं ही उस मांसपिण्डको शीतल जलसे सींचकर उसके सौ भाग किये। राजन! उस समय जो भाग जैसा बना, उसे धायद्वारा वे एक-एक करके घीसे भरे हुए कुण्डोंमें डलवाते गये। इसी बीचमें पूर्ण दृढ़तासे सतीव्रतका पालन करनेवाली साध्वी एवं सुन्दरी गान्धारी कन्याके स्नेह-सम्बन्धका विचार करके मन- ही-मन सोचने लगी--इसमें संदेह नहीं कि इस मांसपिण्डसे मेरे सौ पुत्र उत्पन्न होंगे; क्योंकि व्यासमुनि कभी झूठ नहीं बोलते; परंतु मुझे अधिक संतोष तो तब होता, यदि एक पुत्री भी हो जाती
ghṛtapūrṇeṣu kuṇḍeṣu ekaikaṃ prākṣipat tadā | etasminn antare sādhvī gāndhārī sudṛḍhavratā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Then he placed them one by one into jars filled with ghee. Meanwhile, the virtuous Gāndhārī, steadfast in her vows, reflected inwardly.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness in dharma through the image of Gāndhārī as sudṛḍhavratā—one who holds firmly to her vows—suggesting that ethical strength is shown not only in grand acts but also in sustained inner discipline during uncertain outcomes.
In the account of the Kauravas’ extraordinary birth, the divided portions are placed one by one into ghee-filled vessels for preservation and maturation; at the same time, Gāndhārī, described as virtuous and firm in vows, is introduced as reflecting inwardly during this process.