Shloka 65
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 96 — काश्यकन्याहरणं, शाल्वसमागमः, अम्बावचनं च
Kāśī princesses taken; encounter with Śālva; Ambā’s declaration
तत्रैनं चिताग्निस्थं माद्री समन्वारुरोह उवाच कुन्तीम; यमयोरप्रमत्तया त्वया भवितव्यमिति,एक दिन माद्रीको शृंगार किये देख पाण्डु उसके प्रति आसक्त हो गये और उसका स्पर्श होते ही उनका शरीर छूट गया। तदनन्तर वहाँ चिताकी आगमें स्थित पतिके शवके साथ माद्री चितापर आरूढ़ हो गयी और कुन्तीसे बोली--“बहिन! मेरे जुड़वें बच्चोंके भी लालन- पालनमें तुम सदा सावधान रहना”
tatrainaṃ citāgnisthaṃ mādrī samanvāruroha uvāca kuntīm—yamayor apramattayā tvayā bhavitavyam iti |
Vaiśampāyana said: There, seeing him lying amid the fire of the funeral pyre, Mādrī mounted the pyre after him and spoke to Kuntī: “Sister, you must remain ever vigilant in rearing and protecting my twin sons.” The episode underscores the gravity of duty toward dependents in the wake of tragedy and the transfer of maternal responsibility within the family.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma as vigilant guardianship: when a caregiver is lost, responsibility must be consciously assumed by those who remain. Mādrī’s final request frames child-rearing as an ethical obligation requiring apramāda (non-negligence).
After Pāṇḍu’s death, Mādrī climbs onto the funeral pyre with his body and addresses Kuntī, entrusting her with the careful upbringing and protection of Mādrī’s twin sons, Nakula and Sahadeva.