Shloka 42
ऋषिसमागमः — युधिष्ठिरस्य शोकवर्णनम्
Sage Assembly and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Articulation of Grief
कुन्त्या हि सदृशौ पादौ कर्णस्येति मतिर्मम । सादृश्यहेतुमन्विच्छन् पृथायास्तस्य चैव ह
kuntyā hi sadṛśau pādau karṇasyeti matir mama | sādṛśya-hetum anvicchan pṛthāyās tasya caiva ha ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “In my judgment, Karṇa’s feet resemble Kuntī’s. Seeking the reason for this likeness, I began to inquire into the connection between Pṛthā (Kuntī) and him.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical truth-seeking: Yudhiṣṭhira treats a striking sign (physical resemblance) as a prompt for careful inquiry into lineage and responsibility, implying that dharma requires investigation and clarity rather than assumption.
Yudhiṣṭhira observes that Karṇa’s feet resemble Kuntī’s and, suspecting a familial link, begins to search for the cause of this resemblance—an inquiry that points toward Karṇa’s connection with Pṛthā (Kuntī).