Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 40
द्रौपदी-भीमसेनसंवादः
Draupadī–Bhīmasena Dialogue on Suffering, Kāla, and Daiva
इत्युवाच हि मां कुन्ती रुदती पुत्रगृद्धिनी । प्रत्रजन्तं महारण्यं तं परिष्वज्य तिषछतती
ity uvāca hi māṃ Kuntī rudatī putragṛddhinī | pratrajantaṃ mahāraṇyaṃ taṃ pariṣvajya tiṣṭhatī ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Demikianlah Kuntī berkata kepadaku—dia menangis, hatinya terpaut pada anak-anaknya. Sambil memeluknya ketika dia hendak berangkat menuju rimba besar, dia berdiri di situ dan berkata.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharma as care: even amid political danger and displacement, the ethical center is compassion and responsibility—especially a mother’s protective duty and the community’s obligation to safeguard those who are tender or vulnerable.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Kuntī, crying and deeply attached to her sons, embraces the departing son as he sets out for the great forest and speaks to the listener—introducing her instructions and concerns that follow in the surrounding passage.