Shloka 27
Āstravidyā-Pradarśana: The Kuru Princes’ Public Demonstration of Arms (आस्त्रविद्या-प्रदर्शनम्)
बिभेम्यस्या: परिभवात् कुस्त्रीणां गतिरीदृशी । नाज्ञासिषमहं मूढा द्वन्द्धाह्माने फलद्धयम्,“अब तो मैं इसके द्वारा मेरा तिरस्कार न हो जाय, इस बातके लिये डरती हूँ। खोटी स्त्रियोंकी ऐसी ही गति होती है। मैं ऐसी मूर्खा हूँ कि मेरी समझमें यह बात नहीं आयी कि दो देवताओंके आवाहनसे दो पुत्ररूप फलकी प्राप्ति होती है। अत: राजन्! अब मुझे इसके लिये आप इस कार्यमें नियुक्त न कीजिये। मैं आपसे यही वर माँगती हूँ।” इस प्रकार पाण्डुके देवताओंके दिये हुए पाँच महाबली पुत्र उत्पन्न हुए, जो यशस्वी होनेके साथ ही कुरुकुलकी वृद्धि करनेवाले और उत्तम लक्षणोंसे सम्पन्न थे। चन्द्रमाकी भाँति उनका दर्शन सबको प्रिय लगता था
bibhemy asyāḥ paribhavāt ku-strīṇāṁ gatir īdṛśī | nājñāsiṣam ahaṁ mūḍhā dvandvāhvāne phala-dvayam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “I fear that I may be humiliated by her; such is the fate that befalls women of questionable conduct. In my folly I did not understand that by invoking two deities one obtains a twofold fruit in the form of two sons. Therefore, O King, do not appoint me to this act again; this is the boon I ask of you.” Thus were born to Pāṇḍu five mighty sons granted by the gods—glorious, increasing the Kuru line, endowed with excellent marks; like the moon, their very sight was dear to all.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical anxiety around reputation and propriety: actions—especially those involving sexuality, lineage, and divine rites—carry social consequences, and ignorance of a rite’s implications can lead to fear of dishonor; hence the request to avoid repeating the act.
A woman (contextually Kuntī) expresses fear of being scorned and admits she did not realize that invoking two deities could yield two sons; she asks the king not to involve her again. The narration then summarizes that Pāṇḍu’s five god-granted sons were born, glorious and beloved, strengthening the Kuru line.