Gaṅgā-tīra Udaka-kriyā and Kuntī’s Disclosure of Karṇa’s Maternity
Strī-parva, Adhyāya 27
ततः कुन्ती महाराज सहसा शोककर्शिता
tataḥ kuntī mahārāja sahasā śokakarśitā
Então Kuntī, ó grande rei, de súbito—oprimida e consumida pelo luto—foi tomada pela tristeza após a calamidade, quando a narrativa se volta para o custo humano da guerra e o peso moral suportado pelos anciãos.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical and emotional aftermath of violence: even when actions are framed within kṣatriya-duty and political necessity, the survivors—especially elders and mothers—bear profound grief, reminding the listener that dharma is not merely victory but also accountability to suffering.
Vaiśampāyana continues narrating to King Janamejaya and describes Kuntī becoming suddenly overwhelmed by sorrow, setting the tone for the Strīparvan’s focus on mourning and the devastation left by the war.