Shloka 12
कुन्ती-युधिष्ठिरसंवादः
Kuntī–Yudhiṣṭhira Dialogue on Bhīma’s Mission
गच्छन्तु पुरुषा: शीघ्र॑ं नगरं वारणावतम् । सत्कारयन्तु तान् वीरान् कुन्तिराजसुतां च ताम्,“मेरे कुछ लोग शीघ्र ही वारणावत नगरमें जायेँ और कुन्तिभोजकुमारी कुन्ती तथा वीरवर पाण्डवोंका आदरपूर्वक दाहसंस्कार करायें
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: gacchantu puruṣāḥ śīghraṃ nagaraṃ Vāraṇāvatam | satkārayantu tān vīrān Kuntīrājasutāṃ ca tām ||
ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า “ให้คนทั้งหลายรีบไปยังนครวารณาวตะโดยเร็ว จงจัดการถวายเกียรติและประกอบพิธีศพตามธรรมเนียมแก่เหล่าวีรชนเหล่านั้น และแก่กุนตี ธิดาแห่งกษัตริย์กุนตีด้วย”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the social and ritual obligation to honor the dead (satkāra and antyeṣṭi-type duties). In the epic’s ethical texture, such duties can be invoked sincerely or strategically; the tension between outward dharma (public rites) and inner intent (political calculation) is a recurring Mahābhārata theme.
After the incident associated with Vāraṇāvata, instructions are issued to send men quickly to the city and to carry out respectful rites for the presumed-dead Pāṇḍava heroes and Kuntī. The command functions as an official response meant to appear proper and compassionate before the public.