Shloka 3
Kurukṣetra–Samantapañcaka Māhātmya: King Kuru’s Ploughing and Indra’s Boon (प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिः समन्तपञ्चकं)
वैशम्पायन उवाच ऋषिरासीन्महावीर्य: कुणिर्ग्गों महायशा: । स तप्त्वा विपुलं राज॑ंस्तपो वै तपतां वरः
vaiśampāyana uvāca: ṛṣir āsīn mahāvīryaḥ kuṇir ggoṃ mahāyaśāḥ | sa taptvā vipulaṃ rājan tapaḥ vai tapatāṃ varaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Pada suatu masa dahulu, ada seorang resi yang sangat perkasa, bernama Kuṇi, masyhur di serata tempat. Wahai Raja, sebagai yang terunggul antara para pertapa, beliau menempuh dan menyempurnakan tapas yang besar lagi berat.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds tapas (disciplined austerity) as a source of true potency and moral authority: greatness and fame are linked to self-restraint and sustained spiritual effort, not merely to worldly power.
Vaiśampāyana introduces a revered sage named Kuṇi, describing him as famous and powerful, and notes that he performed extensive austerities—setting up a backstory or exemplum that will ground the subsequent events or instruction.