Shloka 3

Devanagari script

एवं संचिन्तयन्ती सा ददर्शर्तु यदृच्छया । व्रीडिता साभवद्‌ बाला कन्याभावे रजस्वला,इस प्रकार सोच-विचारमें पड़ी हुई कुन्तीने अकस्मात्‌ अपने शरीरमें ऋतुका प्रादुर्भाव हुआ देखा। कन्यावस्थामें ही अपनेको रजस्वला पाकर उस बालिकाने लज्जाका अनुभव किया

Transliteration

evaṁ sañcintayantī sā dadarśa ṛtuṁ yadṛcchayā | vrīḍitā sābhavad bālā kanyābhāve rajasvalā ||

Translation

While she was thus absorbed in anxious reflection, she happened, unexpectedly, to notice the onset of her monthly season. Finding herself menstruating while still in maidenhood, the young girl was overcome with shame—an inward turmoil shaped by the social codes of modesty and the fear of impropriety.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

संचिन्तयन्तीthinking, reflecting

साshe

ददर्शsaw

ऋतुम्the season; (here) menstruation/period

यदृच्छयाby chance, accidentally

व्रीडिताashamed, embarrassed

साshe

अभवत्became, was

बालाthe girl, young maiden

कन्याभावेin the state of maidenhood

रजस्वलाmenstruating

Speaker

वैशग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Kuntī

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the psychological and ethical pressure created by social expectations around chastity and modesty: a natural bodily change becomes a source of fear and shame when framed by concerns of propriety and reputation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kuntī, lost in thought, unexpectedly experiences the onset of menstruation; being still a maiden, she feels embarrassed and distressed, marking a pivotal moment of transition and vulnerability in her story.