Shloka 51
Kuntī’s Prayers and the Neutralization of the Brahmāstra
Uttarā Protected; Yudhiṣṭhira’s Grief Begins
स्त्रीणां मद्धतबन्धूनां द्रोहो योऽसाविहोत्थित: । कर्मभिर्गृहमेधीयैर्नाहं कल्पो व्यपोहितुम् ॥ ५१ ॥
strīṇāṁ mad-dhata-bandhūnāṁ droho yo ’sāv ihotthitaḥ karmabhir gṛhamedhīyair nāhaṁ kalpo vyapohitum
ข้าพเจ้าได้สังหารญาติมิตรของสตรีจำนวนมาก และได้ก่อให้เกิดความเป็นศัตรูจนถึงขนาดที่ไม่สามารถแก้ไขได้ด้วยการกุศลทางวัตถุ
The gṛhamedhīs are those whose only business is to perform welfare work for the sake of material prosperity. Such material prosperity is sometimes hampered by sinful activities, for the materialist is sure to commit sins, even unintentionally, in the course of discharging material duties. To get relief from such sinful reactions, the Vedas prescribe several kinds of sacrifices. It is said in the Vedas that by performing the aśvamedha-yajña (horse sacrifice) one can get relief from even brahma-hatyā (killing of a brāhmaṇa ).
FAQs
In this verse, Kuntī admits that gṛhamedhī-type ritualistic works cannot counteract the grave betrayal and suffering at hand, implying that one must take shelter beyond mere fruitive action—ultimately in the Lord.
While offering prayers to Śrī Kṛṣṇa after the Kurukṣetra war and the protection of Parīkṣit, Kuntī reflects on the tragic treachery and turmoil in her family and expresses her inability to remedy it through ordinary worldly means.
When situations are beyond one’s control, the verse teaches humility: do your duty, but recognize the limits of mere external fixes and cultivate sincere dependence on God, prayer, and inner transformation.