Shloka 206

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरस्य जननी कुन्ती साधुव्रते स्थिता । गान्धारीके निकट ही उत्तम व्रतमें स्थित हुई युधिष्ठिरकी माता कुन्ती भी कुशासनपर सोयीं और उसीमें उन्होंने सुख माना

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhirasya jananī kuntī sādhuvrate sthitā | gāndhārīke nikaṭa hi uttama-vrate sthitā bhūtvā yudhiṣṭhirasya mātā kuntī api kuśāsane śayānā tatraiva sukham amanyata |

Translation

یودھشٹھِر کی ماں کنتی بھی نیک ورَت میں ثابت قدم رہ کر گاندھاری کے قریب ہی رہی۔ اس نے کُش کے آسن پر ہی شَیَن کیا اور اسی سختی میں اطمینان پایا۔

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरस्य: of Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• जननी: mother
• जननी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

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

• साधु-व्रते: in a good/venerable vow (observance)
• साधु-व्रते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधुव्रत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• स्थिता: standing/abiding; situated
• स्थिता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kuntī
• Gāndhārī
• kuśa grass (kuśa-āsana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic renunciation: true contentment can be cultivated through disciplined vows and simplicity. Kuntī models ethical strength by accepting austerity willingly and finding inner peace in hardship rather than comfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the forest-retirement phase, Kuntī stays near Gāndhārī and adopts ascetic practices. She sleeps on a kuśa-grass mat and regards that austere arrangement as sufficient and even सुख (contentment), showing her commitment to the shared life of restraint.