Shloka 44
देवसत्रे मृत्युनिरोधः, पूर्वेन्द्राणां मानुषावतरणम्, द्रौपदी-वरकथनम्
Suspension of Death at the Devasatra; Former Indras’ Human Descent; Draupadī’s Boon Etiology
अनागच्छत्सु पुत्रेषु भैक्षकालेडभिगच्छति । धार्तराष्ट्रहता न स्युर्विज्ञाय कुरुपुज्वा:
anāgacchatsu putreṣu bhaikṣakāle ’bhigacchati | dhārtarāṣṭrahatā na syur vijñāya kuru-puṅgavāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Lorsque l’heure de la quête d’aumônes fut venue et que ses fils n’étaient toujours pas de retour, Kuntī—submergée par l’amour maternel—s’abîma dans mille inquiétudes et commença à redouter leur perte : «Se peut-il que les fils de Dhṛtarāṣṭra, ayant reconnu ces plus éminents des Kurus, les aient tués ?»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma can arise within one’s own family: when rivalry dominates, even recognizing a kinsman may lead to violence. It also portrays the ethical weight of a mother’s protective concern, anticipating the larger collapse of kinship duties that culminates in the Kurukṣetra war.
As the time for alms passes and her sons have not returned, Kuntī becomes fearful. She suspects that Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons (the Kauravas) may have recognized the Pāṇḍavas and killed them, expressing foreboding about hostile intent within the Kuru family.