Shloka 12
कुन्ती-युधिष्ठिरसंवादः
Kuntī–Yudhiṣṭhira Dialogue on Bhīma’s Mission
गच्छन्तु पुरुषा: शीघ्र॑ं नगरं वारणावतम् । सत्कारयन्तु तान् वीरान् कुन्तिराजसुतां च ताम्,“मेरे कुछ लोग शीघ्र ही वारणावत नगरमें जायेँ और कुन्तिभोजकुमारी कुन्ती तथा वीरवर पाण्डवोंका आदरपूर्वक दाहसंस्कार करायें
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: gacchantu puruṣāḥ śīghraṃ nagaraṃ Vāraṇāvatam | satkārayantu tān vīrān Kuntīrājasutāṃ ca tām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Let men go quickly to the city of Vāraṇāvata. Let them perform the due rites of honor and funeral observances for those heroes, and for that daughter of the Kuntī king as well.” In the narrative context, this is a politically charged instruction: outwardly it appears to uphold social duty toward the dead, while it also serves to manage public perception after a catastrophic event.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the social and ritual obligation to honor the dead (satkāra and antyeṣṭi-type duties). In the epic’s ethical texture, such duties can be invoked sincerely or strategically; the tension between outward dharma (public rites) and inner intent (political calculation) is a recurring Mahābhārata theme.
After the incident associated with Vāraṇāvata, instructions are issued to send men quickly to the city and to carry out respectful rites for the presumed-dead Pāṇḍava heroes and Kuntī. The command functions as an official response meant to appear proper and compassionate before the public.