Shloka 31
Adhyāya 125: Raṅga-pradarśana — Arjuna’s Entry and Astric Demonstration (रङ्गप्रदर्शनम्)
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्त्वा तं चिताग्निस्थं धर्मपत्नी नरर्षभम् । मद्रराजसुता तूर्णमन्वारोहदू यशस्विनी,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-जनमेजय! कुन्तीसे यह कहकर पाण्डुकी यशस्विनी धर्मपत्नी माद्री चिताकी आगपर रखे हुए नरश्रेष्ठ पाण्डुके शवके साथ स्वयं भी चितापर जा बैठी
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktvā taṃ citāgnisthaṃ dharmapatnī nararṣabham | madrarājasutā tūrṇam anvārohād yaśasvinī ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଏହିପରି କହି, ମଦ୍ରରାଜଙ୍କ କନ୍ୟା, ଯଶସ୍ୱିନୀ ଧର୍ମପତ୍ନୀ ମାଦ୍ରୀ, ଚିତାଗ୍ନିମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ନରଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପାଣ୍ଡୁଙ୍କ ପଛେ ପଛେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଚିତାରେ ଆରୋହଣ କଲେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic’s portrayal of dharma through the ideal of the dharmapatnī—one who remains bound to her husband by a socially sanctioned ethic of fidelity—even at the cost of her own life, while implicitly inviting reflection on the weight and consequences of such vows and choices.
After speaking (contextually, to Kuntī and others), Mādrī, the Madra princess and Pāṇḍu’s wife, climbs onto the funeral pyre where Pāṇḍu’s body lies in the pyre-fire, choosing to die with him.