Shloka 22

Devanagari script

तोयकर्मणि तं कुन्ती कथयामास सूर्यजम्‌ । पुत्र सर्वगुणोपेतमवरकीर्ण जले पुरा

Transliteration

toyakarmaṇi taṃ kuntī kathayāmāsa sūryajam | putraṃ sarvaguṇopetam avakīrṇaṃ jale purā ||

Translation

在谈及与水有关的仪式（为亡者献水）时，昆蒂向他揭开了那位太阳所生之子的秘密：“迦尔纳是我亲生的孩子，具足诸德——很久以前，我曾将他放逐于水上，任其漂流。”

Word by Word

• तोयकर्मणि: in the water-rite / at the act concerning water
• तोयकर्मणि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयकर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• कथयामास: told / related
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (कथयति)
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), 3rd, Singular

• सूर्यजम्: sun-born (born of Surya)
• सूर्यजम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्यज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सर्वगुणोपेतम्: endowed with all virtues
• सर्वगुणोपेतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वगुणोपेत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अवरकीर्णम्: cast down / thrown away
• अवरकीर्णम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव + कृ (कीर्ण)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• पुरा: formerly / earlier
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kuntī
• Karna
• Sūrya (Sun-god)
• water (jala)
• water-rite/libation (toyakarma)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the moral gravity of concealed truth and the far-reaching consequences of actions taken under fear or social pressure. It also situates confession within a ritual context, suggesting that moments of grief and dharmic duty can compel honesty and ethical reckoning.

What is happening in the narrative?

During a water-offering rite connected with the dead, Kuntī tells Yudhiṣṭhira that Karna—born from the Sun-god—was actually her own virtuous son, whom she had earlier abandoned by setting him afloat in water.