Shloka 4
Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
विहस्य तां ततो ब्रूया: कुन्ति कि ते ददाम्यहम् । सा त॑ विहस्यमानापि पुत्र देहुब्रवीदिदम्
vihasya tāṁ tato brūyāḥ: kunti ki te dadāmy aham | sā taṁ vihasyamānāpi putra dehūbravīd idam ||
پھر دھرم نے مسکرا کر کہا—“کُنتی! بتاؤ، میں تمہیں کیا دوں؟” دھرم کے اس ہنسی بھرے سوال پر بھی کُنتی نے کہا—“مجھے ایک بیٹا عطا کیجیے۔”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic framing of desire: Kuntī’s request for a son is presented as a legitimate, duty-aligned aim tied to lineage and responsibility, not mere personal whim.
A divine/authoritative figure (contextually Dharma) playfully asks Kuntī what boon she wants; Kuntī responds directly by asking for a son.