Mahabharata 1.111.15 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 111, Shloka 15
पाण्डोः तपः-प्रसङ्गः, ऋण-धर्मः, अपत्य-प्राप्ति-चिन्ता
Pāṇḍu’s Asceticism, the Doctrine of Debts, and Deliberations on Progeny
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्ता बहुविध॑ सान्त्वपूर्व विवस्व॒ता । सा तु नैच्छद् वरारोहा कन्याहमिति भारत
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: evam uktā bahuvidhaṃ sāntva-pūrvaṃ Vivasvatā | sā tu naicchad varārohā kanyāham iti Bhārata ||
வைசம்பாயனன் கூறினான்—ஓ பாரதா! விவஸ்வான் (சூரியன்) முதலில் சமாதான வார்த்தைகளால் பலவிதமாகப் பேசியும், “நான் இன்னும் கன்னி” என்று எண்ணிய அந்த உயர்குலப் பெண் ஒன்றுதலுக்கு இசையவில்லை.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical restraint and personal integrity: despite persuasive, soothing speech from a powerful divine figure, Kuntī’s self-understanding as an unmarried maiden becomes the basis for refusing union—highlighting the moral weight of consent and social-dharmic considerations.
Within the Kuntī–Sūrya episode, the Sun-god (Vivasvat) speaks to Kuntī in many conciliatory ways, attempting to reassure her; nevertheless, she does not agree, thinking, “I am a maiden,” and therefore does not desire to meet him in union.
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