Shloka 26
Gaṅgā-tīra Udaka-kriyā and Kuntī’s Disclosure of Karṇa’s Maternity
Strī-parva, Adhyāya 27
व्यरुदच्छनकै राजंश्नकारास्योदकं प्रभु: । ततो विनेदु: सहसा स्त्रियस्ता: खलु सर्वश:
vyarudacchanakai rājañ śnakārāsyodakaṃ prabhuḥ | tato vineduḥ sahasā striyas tāḥ khalu sarvaśaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—स प्रभुः शनकै राजन् व्यरुदच्छन्, अश्रुपूर्णमुखोऽभवत्। ततः सहसा ताः स्त्रियः सर्वशो विनेदुः।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical reality of war’s aftermath: even the powerful are overcome by grief, and private sorrow can trigger collective mourning, reminding the listener of the human cost behind victory and loss.
A central male figure (called prabhuḥ) begins to weep quietly, his face covered with tears; seeing this, the women present suddenly raise a loud, unified lament.