Shloka 28
कृपकृपी-जननम्
The Birth of Kṛpa and Kṛpī; Kṛpa’s Attainment of Astras
अपत्यं नाम लोकेषु प्रतिष्ठा धर्मसंहिता । इति कुन्ति विदुर्धीरा: शाश्व॒तं धर्मवादिन:,“सम्पूर्ण लोकोंमें संतान ही धर्ममयी प्रतिष्ठा है--कुन्ती! सदा धर्मका प्रतिपादन करनेवाले धीर पुरुष ऐसा ही मानते हैं। संतानहीन मनुष्य इस लोकमें यज्ञ, दान, तप और नियमोंका भलीभाँति अनुष्ठान कर ले, तो भी उसके किये हुए सब कर्म पवित्र नहीं कहे जाते
apatyaṃ nāma lokeṣu pratiṣṭhā dharmasaṃhitā | iti kunti vidur dhīrāḥ śāśvataṃ dharmavādinaḥ |
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: «En los mundos, la descendencia es, en verdad, el fundamento perdurable del propio rango: una instauración asentada en el dharma. Así, oh Kuntī, los firmes y sabios, que siempre hablan por el dharma, lo han entendido desde antiguo: sin hijos, aunque alguien cumpla bien en este mundo sacrificios, dádivas, austeridades y observancias, tales actos no son tenidos por plenamente santificados.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that progeny is viewed as a dharma-grounded foundation of one’s enduring standing in society and tradition; without offspring, even well-performed religious acts are considered incomplete in their sanctifying effect, because continuity of lineage and dharmic responsibility is central to the householder ideal.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Kuntī and articulates a traditional dharmic valuation of having children, framing it as a perennial view held by wise teachers of dharma—setting an ethical and social rationale relevant to Kuntī’s situation and the broader dynastic concerns of the epic.