Shloka 28

Kuntī–Karṇa Saṃvāda: Lineage Disclosure and Appeal to Fraternal Dharma

Devanagari script

प्राड्मुखस्योर्ध्वबाहो: सा पर्यतिछठत पृष्ठतः । जप्यावसानं कार्यार्थ प्रतीक्षन्ती तपस्विनी

Transliteration

prāṅmukhasyordhvabāhoḥ sā paryatiṣṭhat pṛṣṭhataḥ | japyāvasānaṃ kāryārthaṃ pratīkṣantī tapasvinī ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: Khi chàng đứng quay mặt về hướng đông, hai tay giơ cao, nàng vẫn đứng yên phía sau, chờ cho lời tụng niệm thiêng liêng được hoàn tất—Kuntī, người nữ tu khổ hạnh, đứng đó vì một việc cần kíp. Nàng không cắt ngang nghi lễ, chỉ đợi đúng thời khắc để hành động.

Word by Word

• प्राङ्मुखस्य: of (him) facing east
• प्राङ्मुखस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राङ्मुख
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• ऊर्ध्वबाहोः: of (him) with arms raised upward
• ऊर्ध्वबाहोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध्वबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पर्यतिष्ठत्: stood (remained standing)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• पृष्ठतः: from behind / behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ
• Form: Adverb (ablatival -tas)

• जप्य: to be muttered (as a prayer); the muttering
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अवसानम्: end, completion
• अवसानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कार्यार्थम्: for the sake of a task/purpose
• कार्यार्थम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्यार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रतीक्षन्ती: waiting (expecting)
• प्रतीक्षन्ती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ईक्ष्
• Form: Present active participle, Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तपस्विनी: the ascetic woman (Kuntī)
• तपस्विनी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विनी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kuntī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic restraint and reverence for sacred observance: even when one has an urgent purpose, one should not disrupt another’s ritual discipline, but wait for the proper completion and appropriate moment to speak or act.

What is happening in the narrative?

A man is performing japa in an ascetic posture—facing east with arms raised—while Kuntī stands behind him, waiting until his recitation ends so she may proceed with her intended task without interrupting the rite.