Shloka 12
Kuntī’s Retrospective Uddharṣaṇa and Renunciatory Resolve (कुन्त्युद्धर्षण-प्रत्याख्यानम्)
सा हाग्रेगच्छति तयोर्दम्पत्योर्हतपुत्रयो: । कर्षन्ती तौ ततस्ते तां दृष्टवा संन्यपतन् भुवि
sā hāgre gacchati tayor dampatyor hataputrayoḥ | karṣantī tau tatas te tāṃ dṛṣṭvā saṃnyapatan bhuvi ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—सा अग्रे जगाम, हतपुत्रयोस्तयो राजदम्पत्योः सह तौ कर्षन्ती। तां तथा समायान्तीं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवाः सहसा तस्याः पादयोर्भुवि निपेतुः।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights humility and moral accountability after violence: even victors must bow before the suffering they have caused, acknowledging grief and seeking reconciliation in the shadow of dharma.
A woman walks ahead, leading and supporting a bereaved, sonless couple (contextually Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī). On seeing them, the Pāṇḍavas immediately prostrate on the ground in reverence and contrition.