Mahabharata — Ashramavasika Parva, Shloka 49

अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तवत्यां गान्धार्या कुन्ती व्रतकृशानना

Transliteration

ity uktavatyāṃ gāndhāryā kuntī vratakṛśānanā

Translation

Nang masabi ni Gandhārī ang gayon, si Kuntī—na ang mukha’y pumayat dahil sa mga panata at pag-aayuno—(sumagot/naroon), sa tagpong ang dalamhati’y pinapahinahon ng mahigpit na pagpipigil, at ang bigat ng dating gawa ay binabata sa katahimikan at panata.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• उक्तवत्याम्: when (she) had spoken
• उक्तवत्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उक्तवत् (स्त्री. उक्तवती)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• गान्धार्याः: of Gandhari
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धारी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• कुन्ती: Kunti
• कुन्ती: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्ती
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• व्रतकृशानना: whose face was emaciated by vows/fasts
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रतकृशानना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gandhārī
• Kuntī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical ideal of bearing suffering with disciplined restraint: after Gandhārī’s words, Kuntī is characterized not by argument or power but by austerity (vrata) that has physically transformed her, suggesting inner resolve and acceptance of karmic and dharmic consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a transition: Gandhārī has just finished speaking, and attention shifts to Kuntī, described as emaciated from vows and ascetic practice—setting up Kuntī’s reaction within the forest-ascetic context of the Ashramavāsika episode.