Shloka 17
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
मातरं चाविदूरस्थां शिष्यवत् प्रणतां स्थिताम् । कुन्तीं ददर्श धर्मात्मा शिष्टाचारसमन्विताम्
mātaraṃ cāvidūrasthāṃ śiṣyavat praṇatāṃ sthitām | kuntīṃ dadarśa dharmātmā śiṣṭācārasamanvitām ||
ତେବେ ଧର୍ମାତ୍ମା ଯୁଧିଷ୍ଠିର ଅଳ୍ପ ଦୂରେ ନିଜ ମାତା କୁନ୍ତୀଙ୍କୁ ଶିଷ୍ୟ ପରି ବିନୟୀ, ପ୍ରଣତ ଓ ଶିଷ୍ଟାଚାରସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଭାବେ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ଦେଖିଲେ। ନିକଟରେ ରାଜା ଧୃତରାଷ୍ଟ୍ର ନିତ୍ୟକର୍ମ ସମାପ୍ତ କରି ଗାନ୍ଧାରୀଙ୍କ ସହ ଶାନ୍ତ ଭାବେ ଉପବିଷ୍ଟ ଥିଲେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights śiṣṭācāra (cultured, ethical conduct) expressed through humility and reverence: even a royal mother like Kuntī stands with the modesty of a disciple, showing that dharma is upheld through disciplined behavior toward elders and in solemn circumstances.
In the forest-ascetic setting of the Āśramavāsika episode, the narrator describes the scene: Dhṛtarāṣṭra has finished his daily observances and sits peacefully with Gāndhārī, while Kuntī stands nearby in a respectful, bowed posture; the dharmic observer (contextually, a principal figure arriving there) notices her demeanor.