Gaṅgā-tīra Udaka-kriyā and Kuntī’s Disclosure of Karṇa’s Maternity
Strī-parva, Adhyāya 27
कर्णमेवानुशोचन्तो भूय: क्लान्ततराभवन् | माताका यह अप्रिय वचन सुनकर समस्त पाण्डव कर्णके लिये ही बारंबार शोक करते हुए अत्यन्त कष्टमें पड़ गये ।। १३ $ ।। ततः स पुरुषव्यात्र: कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:
karṇam evānuśocanto bhūyaḥ klāntatarābhavan | tataḥ sa puruṣavyāghraḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
Sambil berduka berulang-ulang hanya untuk Karṇa, mereka kian letih dan tersiksa. Lalu sang harimau di antara manusia—Yudhiṣṭhira, putra Kuntī—…
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights how recognition of kinship and the moral cost of war can intensify sorrow: even victory brings exhaustion when one realizes that a revered opponent was also family, and grief becomes a form of ethical reckoning.
After hearing painful words (contextually, Kuntī’s disclosure about Karṇa), the Pāṇḍavas repeatedly mourn Karṇa and grow increasingly distressed; the narration then turns to Yudhiṣṭhira, who is about to respond or take the next step.