Shloka 12
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
ततस्तामागतो वायुर्मगारूढो महाबल: । किं ते कुन्ति ददाम्यद्य ब्रूहि यत् ते हदि स्थितम्
tatas tām āgato vāyur mṛgārūḍho mahābalaḥ | kiṃ te kunti dadāmy adya brūhi yat te hṛdi sthitam ||
Kemudian dewa Angin, maha perkasa dan menunggang seekor rusa, datang kepadanya lalu berkata: “Kuntī, nyatakanlah hasrat yang tersimpan di hatimu. Apakah yang harus aku kurniakan kepadamu hari ini?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights moral agency: even when divine power offers help, the human recipient must articulate the intention in the heart. It underscores responsibility in choosing desires, since boons amplify one’s inner purpose.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Vāyu approaches Kuntī, described as mighty and riding a deer, and invites her to state her heartfelt wish so that he may grant her a boon.