Shloka 46
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
इत्येवं चिन्तयामास सुतस्नेहावृता पृथा । ततः सुप्तजनप्राये दुर्दिने मेघसम्प्लुते
ity evaṁ cintayāmāsa sutasnehāvṛtā pṛthā | tataḥ suptajanaprāye durdine meghasamplute |
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Así, Pṛthā (Kuntī), envuelta por el amor a sus hijos, seguía dando vueltas a esos pensamientos. Luego, en un día sombrío, cuando el cielo estaba anegado de nubes pesadas y la gente, dejando sus tareas, permanecía inmóvil en sus casas como si durmiera, en el tercer tramo del día Arjuna—rodeado por un círculo de brāhmaṇas, como el sol velado por las nubes—entró allí, en la casa del alfarero.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical force of suta-sneha (parental love) as a powerful motive that shapes decisions, while also hinting that even in obscured, adverse circumstances (clouded day), dharmic action and purposeful movement continue—symbolized by Arjuna appearing like the sun behind clouds.
Kuntī is absorbed in anxious reflection. Meanwhile, during gloomy, cloud-heavy weather when the town is unusually still, Arjuna arrives accompanied by brāhmaṇas and enters the potter’s house, marking a shift from Kuntī’s inner deliberation to Arjuna’s outward action.