Shloka 4
Kurukṣetra–Samantapañcaka Māhātmya: King Kuru’s Ploughing and Indra’s Boon (प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिः समन्तपञ्चकं)
मनसाथ सुतां सुभ्रं समुत्पादितवान् विभु: । वैशम्पायनजीने कहा--राजन्! प्राचीन कालमें एक महान् शक्तिशाली और महायशस्वी कुणिर्गग नामक ऋषि रहते थे। तपस्या करनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ उन महर्षिने बड़ा भारी तप करके अपने मनसे एक सुन्दरी कन्या उत्पन्न की ।। तां च दृष्टवा मुनि: प्रीत: कुणिर्ग्गो महायशा:
manasātha sutāṁ subhrāṁ samutpāditavān vibhuḥ | vaiśampāyana uvāca—rājan, prācīna-kāle ekaḥ mahān śaktimān mahāyaśāś ca kuṇirggo nāma ṛṣir āsīt | tapasvināṁ śreṣṭhas sa maharṣir bahu-guru-tapasā manasaḥ ekāṁ sundarīṁ kanyāṁ samutpādayām āsa || tāṁ ca dṛṣṭvā muniḥ prītaḥ kuṇirggo mahāyaśāḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, pada zaman purba hiduplah seorang maharesi bernama Kuṇirgga, besar kekuatan rohaninya dan masyhur namanya. Terunggul antara para pertapa, beliau melakukan tapas yang keras, lalu dengan daya fikirannya melahirkan seorang puteri yang berseri-seri lagi jelita. Melihatnya, resi termasyhur Kuṇirgga pun dipenuhi sukacita.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Mahābhārata theme that disciplined austerity (tapas) and inner mastery can yield extraordinary results; it also frames such power within a moral narrative context, where spiritual potency must be guided by discernment and responsibility.
Vaiśampāyana begins an ancient episode: the famed sage Kuṇirgga performs intense tapas and produces a radiant daughter through mental power; upon seeing her, he feels pleased—setting up the next events of the story.