Shloka 6
Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 2 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry for His Kin and the Vision of a Punitive Realm
मातुर्हि वचन श्रुव्वा तदा सलिलकर्मणि । कर्णस्य क्रियतां तोयमिति तप्यामि तेन वै
mātuḥ hi vacanaṁ śrutvā tadā salilakarmaṇi | karṇasya kriyatāṁ toyam iti tapyāmi tena vai ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Having heard my mother’s words at the time of the water-offering rites, I am indeed tormented by this: ‘Let water be offered for Karṇa as well.’”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of kinship and ritual duty: once truth about relationships is revealed, dharma demands appropriate honor even to a former enemy. Yudhiṣṭhira’s anguish shows how delayed knowledge can still impose moral responsibility and remorse.
During the performance of water-offering rites for the dead, Kuntī instructs that water should also be offered for Karṇa. Yudhiṣṭhira, hearing this, is distressed—implying the painful recognition of Karṇa’s rightful claim to familial rites and honor.