Shloka 10
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
न च सा वनवासाय देवी कृतमतिं तदा । शव्नोत्युपावर्तयितु कुन्तीं धर्मपरां सतीम्,परंतु धर्मपरायणा सती-साध्वी कुन्तीदेवी वनमें रहनेका दृढ़ निश्चय कर चुकी थीं; अत गान्धारीदेवी उन्हें घरकी ओर लौटा न सकी
na ca sā vanavāsāya devī kṛtamatīṁ tadā | śaknoty upāvartayituṁ kuntīṁ dharmaparāṁ satīm ||
Pada ketika itu, permaisuri Gāndhārī tidak mampu memalingkan Kuntī daripada tekadnya untuk tinggal di rimba. Kerana Kuntī—teguh, suci, dan setia kepada dharma—telah pun membuat keputusan yang kukuh untuk menjalani kehidupan di hutan; maka ia tidak kembali ke kehidupan istana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast commitment to dharma and a chosen life-path (here, forest-dwelling/renunciation) should not be treated as a mere emotion to be reversed; true resolve grounded in ethical duty remains firm even under persuasion by respected elders.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Gāndhārī is unable to bring Kuntī back to the household. Kuntī, described as dharma-devoted and virtuous, has already decided to go (or remain) in the forest, and her determination cannot be overturned.