Shloka 24
Kuntī–Karṇa Saṃvāda: Lineage Disclosure and Appeal to Fraternal Dharma
भवेयमिति संचिन्त्य ब्राह्म॒णं तं नमस्य च । कौतूहलात् तु तं लब्ध्वा बालिश्यादाचरं तदा । कन्या सती देवमर्कमासादयमहं ततः
bhaveyam iti saṃcintya brāhmaṇaṃ taṃ namasya ca | kautūhalāt tu taṃ labdhvā bāliśyād ācaran tadā | kanyā satī devam arkam āsādayam ahaṃ tataḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Tras pensar: «Sea así», e inclinarme ante aquel brāhmaṇa, obtuve el mantra; y luego, por curiosidad y necedad juvenil, comencé a ponerlo en práctica. Como consecuencia, siendo aún doncella, llegué a unirme al dios Arka, el Sol.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical causality: even actions begun without malicious intent—driven by curiosity and immature judgment—can yield life-altering consequences. It implicitly commends discernment (viveka) and restraint in the use of powerful means (mantra), especially when one is concerned with preserving dharma and social integrity.
The speaker recounts receiving a mantra from a brāhmaṇa and, out of curiosity and youthful folly, testing it. The mantra’s effect brings the Sun-god (Arka/Sūrya) to her, resulting in a divine union while she is still a maiden—setting up the later narrative consequences associated with this event.