Shloka 3
Kuntī’s Appeal for Progeny and the Vyuṣitāśva–Bhadrā Precedent (कुन्ती-पाण्डु संवादः; व्युषिताश्व-भद्रा आख्यानम्)
ततः सा कुन्तिभोजेन राज्ञा55हूय नराधिपान् । पित्रा स्वयंवरे दत्ता दुहिता राजसत्तम,राजेन्द्र! तब कन्याके पिता राजा कुन्तिभोजने उन सब राजाओंको बुलाकर अपनी पुत्री पृथाको स्वयंवरमें उपस्थित किया
tataḥ sā kuntibhojena rājñā hūya narādhipān | pitrā svayaṃvare dattā duhitā rājasattama rājendra |
Then King Kuntibhoja summoned the other rulers; and at her svayaṃvara, her father bestowed his daughter Pṛthā in marriage—O best of kings, O lord of kings. The episode underscores the king’s duty to arrange a rightful alliance through a publicly witnessed, socially sanctioned rite, balancing personal choice with royal responsibility and lineage ethics.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal and familial dharma requires that marriage alliances be arranged through recognized, publicly accountable customs (here, a svayaṃvara), ensuring social legitimacy, protection of lineage, and ethical governance rather than private or coercive union.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that King Kuntibhoja convenes many rulers and, in the setting of his daughter’s svayaṃvara, formally gives his daughter Pṛthā (later known as Kuntī) in marriage.