Shloka 12
बक-राक्षसस्य आह्वानम् तथा वृक्षयुद्धम्
Summons of Baka and the Tree-Weapon Engagement
न्यविशन्त हि ते सर्वे निरास्वादे महावने । ततस्तृषापरिकलान्ता कुन्ती पुत्रानथाब्रवीत्,तब उन सबने उस नीरस विशाल जंगलमें डेरा डाल दिया। तत्पश्चात् प्याससे पीड़ित कुन्तीदेवी अपने पुत्रोंसे बोली--
nyaviśanta hi te sarve nirāsvāde mahāvane | tatas tṛṣāparikalāntā kuntī putrān athābravīt ||
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—వారు అందరూ ఆ రసహీనమైన మహావనంలో ఆగి విశ్రమించిరి. ఆపై దాహంతో అలసిన కుంతి తన కుమారులతో ఇలా పలికెను।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic resilience and responsible leadership in adversity: even when deprived of comfort (nirāsvāda) and weakened by thirst, Kuntī remains attentive to duty and guides her sons, modeling steadiness and purposeful action under hardship.
The group halts in a vast, bleak forest. Kuntī, exhausted by thirst, begins to speak to her sons—preparing to direct them toward finding relief and taking the next practical step in their journey.