Shloka 76
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
पाण्डुस्तु पुनरेवैनां पुत्रलोभान्महायशा: । वक्तुमैच्छद् धर्मपत्नीं कुन्ती त्वेममथाब्रवीत्
pāṇḍus tu punar evaināṁ putralobhān mahāyaśāḥ | vaktum aicchad dharmapatnīṁ kuntī tv enam athābravīt |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Pāṇḍu yang termasyhur, sekali lagi didorong oleh kerinduan akan putera, hendak berkata lebih lanjut kepada isteri dharmanya, Kuntī. Namun Kuntī menahannya lalu berkata—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal desire (longing for progeny) and dharma (right conduct within marriage and moral consequence). Kuntī’s intervention signals restraint and deliberation rather than being driven solely by craving.
Pāṇḍu, again overwhelmed by the desire for sons, is about to speak further to Kuntī. Before he can continue, Kuntī stops him and begins to respond, marking a shift where her counsel or decision will guide the next events.