Adhyāya 123 — Droṇa’s Pedagogy: Arjuna’s Preeminence, Ekalavya’s Self-Training, and the Bhāsa-Lakṣya Trial
पाण्डुस्तु पुनरेवैनां पुत्रलोभान्महायशा: । वक्तुमैच्छद् धर्मपत्नीं कुन्ती त्वेममथाब्रवीत्
pāṇḍus tu punar evaināṁ putralobhān mahāyaśāḥ | vaktum aicchad dharmapatnīṁ kuntī tv enam athābravīt |
اس کے بعد بلندنام پاندو بیٹوں کی آرزو سے پھر اپنی دھرم پتنی کُنتی سے کچھ کہنا چاہتا تھا؛ مگر کُنتی نے اسے روک کر کہا—
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the ethical tension between personal desire (longing for progeny) and dharma (right conduct within marriage and moral consequence). Kuntī’s intervention signals restraint and deliberation rather than being driven solely by craving.
Pāṇḍu, again overwhelmed by the desire for sons, is about to speak further to Kuntī. Before he can continue, Kuntī stops him and begins to respond, marking a shift where her counsel or decision will guide the next events.