Shloka 2
Saudāsa
Kalmāṣapāda) Released by Vasiṣṭha; Return to Ayodhyā; Birth of Aśmaka (अश्मक-जन्म
ततः कुन्ती सुतान् दृष्टवा सर्वास्तद्गतचेतस: । युधिष्िरमुवाचेदं वचनं सत्यवादिनी,तब सत्यवादिनी कुन्तीने अपने सभी पुत्रोंका मन उस स्वयंवरकी ओर आकृष्ट देख युधिष्ठिसे इस प्रकार कहा
tataḥ kuntī sutān dṛṣṭvā sarvāstadgatacetasaḥ | yudhiṣṭhiram uvācedaṃ vacanaṃ satyavādinī ||
Then Kuntī, seeing that all her sons’ minds were drawn toward that svayaṃvara, spoke these words to Yudhiṣṭhira—she who was steadfast in truth. The verse frames Kuntī as a moral voice: she observes their inward inclination and addresses the eldest with a truth-bound, duty-conscious intent.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical speech and responsible leadership: Kuntī, characterized as satyavādinī (truth-bound), addresses Yudhiṣṭhira after discerning the inner pull of her sons’ minds. It underscores that desire and intention should be guided through truthful counsel and dharmic deliberation.
Kuntī notices that her sons are mentally drawn toward a particular event (the svayaṃvara, as indicated by context). She then turns to Yudhiṣṭhira, the eldest, and begins to speak—setting up guidance or instruction about how they should proceed.