Shloka 17
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
मातरं चाविदूरस्थां शिष्यवत् प्रणतां स्थिताम् । कुन्तीं ददर्श धर्मात्मा शिष्टाचारसमन्विताम्
mātaraṃ cāvidūrasthāṃ śiṣyavat praṇatāṃ sthitām | kuntīṃ dadarśa dharmātmā śiṣṭācārasamanvitām ||
Saat itu, Yudhiṣṭhira yang berhati luhur melihat ibunya, Kuntī, berdiri tidak jauh—menunduk seperti seorang murid, tenang dan rendah hati, memancarkan tata krama yang benar. Di dekatnya, Raja Dhṛtarāṣṭra, setelah menyelesaikan laku harian, duduk dengan damai bersama Gāndhārī.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights śiṣṭācāra (cultured, ethical conduct) expressed through humility and reverence: even a royal mother like Kuntī stands with the modesty of a disciple, showing that dharma is upheld through disciplined behavior toward elders and in solemn circumstances.
In the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika episode, the narrator describes the scene: Dhṛtarāṣṭra has finished his daily observances and sits peacefully with Gāndhārī, while Kuntī stands nearby in a respectful, bowed posture; the dharmic observer (contextually, a principal figure arriving there) notices her demeanor.