Shloka 9
Droṇa–Drupada Saṃvāda and Droṇa’s Reception at the Kuru Court (द्रोण-द्रुपद-संवादः; कुरुनगरप्रवेशः)
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्ता ततः कुन्ती पाण्डुं परपुरंजयम् | प्रत्युवाच वरारोहा भर्तु: प्रियहिते रता,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! इस प्रकार कही जानेपर पतिके प्रिय और हितमें लगी रहनेवाली सुन्दरांगी कुन्ती शत्रुओंकी राजधानीपर विजय पानेवाले महाराज पाण्डुसे इस प्रकार बोली--
vaiśampāyana uvāca evam uktā tataḥ kuntī pāṇḍuṁ parapuraṁjayam | pratyuvāca varārohā bhartuḥ priyahite ratā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When Kuntī had thus been addressed, that fair-limbed lady—ever devoted to what was pleasing and beneficial to her husband—replied to King Pāṇḍu, the conqueror of hostile cities.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical ideal of intention: Kuntī’s speech is framed as motivated by her husband’s welfare (priya-hita), suggesting that counsel and action within family and governance should be guided by beneficent duty rather than self-interest.
After being spoken to, Kuntī responds to King Pāṇḍu. The narrator (Vaiśampāyana) introduces her reply by describing her as devoted to her husband’s good, preparing the listener for the content of her forthcoming counsel.