Enigmas in the life of Kunti – Part 1

Life and Character analysis of Kunti

Introduction

Kunti, also known as Pritha, is one of the most significant and complex characters in the Mahabharata. Immense trials, unyielding strength, and profound devotion mark her life. As the mother of the Pandavas, she plays a crucial role in the unfolding of events that lead to the great battle of Kurukshetra. Her character embodies resilience, sacrifice, and a deep sense of duty, making her a revered figure in Hindu mythology. This article delves into the life, character, and major events that shaped Kunti’s journey, highlighting her indomitable spirit and unwavering faith.

1. Birth

Kunti, originally named Pritha, was the sister of Vasudeva, the father of Lord Krishna. She was born to King Surasena of the Yadava dynasty. King Kuntibhoja, the son of Shurasena’s sister, adopted her as he had no children. Shurasena had promised to give his first-born daughter to Kuntibhoja, and thus Pritha was raised in Kuntibhoja’s palace, earning the name Kunti. Kunti, along with Madri and Gandhari, were incarnations of the celestial women Siddhi, Kirti, and Mali respectively.

2. Kunti and the Mantra

Kunti’s piety and devotion were clear from a young age. One of the defining moments in Kunti’s early life was her encounter with the sage Durvasa. As a young girl, she served the sage with intense devotion during his stay at her father’s palace. Pleased with her service, Durvasa granted her a boon—the ability to invoke any deity and bear children from them. This boon later played a crucial role in shaping her destiny.

3. Testing the Mantra – Karna’s Birth

Curious and perhaps overwhelmed by the power of the boon, Kunti decided to test it. She invoked Surya, the sun god, who appeared before her. Although initially alarmed, Kunti yielded to his presence when Surya assured her that her virginity would remain intact. Kunti bore a son with divine armour and earrings, marking him as a child of extraordinary destiny. However, as an unmarried princess, Kunti feared the social consequences of having a child out of wedlock. In a heart-wrenching decision, Kunti placed the infant in a basket and set him afloat on the river. A charioteer, Adhiratha and his wife found and raised him, growing up unaware of his royal lineage and was named Karna. This secret would haunt Kunti throughout her life, especially during the events leading up to the Kurukshetra war.

4. Kunti’s Wedded Life

Soon, Kunti’s father, King Kuntibhoja, organized a Swayamvara for her, during which she chose Pandu, the King of Hastinapur, as her husband. Later, Pandu married the extraordinarily beautiful Madri. Although Kunti may not have been pleased with this turn of events, she and Madri soon became best friends, unaware that Kunti would eventually have to raise Madri’s sons as her own.

One day, while hunting, Pandu shot an arrow at the sage Kindana and his wife, mistaking them for deer because of their copulating forms. The dying sage cursed Pandu, declaring that he would die if he tried to make love to either of his wives, Kunti or Madri. This curse deeply affected Pandu, who was still childless, and decided to go to the forest to serve penance, leaving the kingdom in the care of his blind elder brother, Dhṛitharaṣhṭra.

In the forest, Pandu became increasingly worried and depressed about dying without leaving a son to carry on his name. He shared his despair with Kunti, who, along with Madri, had accompanied him.

5. Invocation of the Devas: Birth of the Pandavas

In this time of need, Kunti revealed her boon from sage Durvasa to Pandu. With Pandu’s encouragement, Kunti invoked the gods to bear children. She called upon Dharma (the god of righteousness), Vayu (the wind god), and Indra (the king of gods), resulting in the birth of Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna, respectively. Each child inherited qualities from their divine father, making them exceptional warriors and leaders.

Kunti’s selflessness extended to Madri, to whom she passed the boon, resulting in the birth of Nakula and Sahadeva through the Ashwini twins. However, Madri’s untimely death, following Pandu’s demise because of the curse, left Kunti as the sole guardian of all five children. Her role as a mother now encompassed nurturing and protecting the future heirs of the Kuru dynasty.

6. Widowhood – A Dutiful Mother

Sometime later, Pandu succumbed to the curse when he could not resist approaching Madri, and a guilt-ridden Madri ended her life by jumping into her husband’s funeral pyre. Though Kunti wished to follow suit, the sages advised her to fulfil her maternal responsibility of raising the five young Pandava princes. This marked the beginning of a lifelong duty that Kunti embraced wholeheartedly. She left no stone unturned to ensure the princes received proper education, learned the right values, and were recognized as the rightful heirs to the throne of Hastinapur.

The journey was long and fraught with challenges, as Kunti and her sons lived under the rule of Dhritarashtra and his wife Gandhari, along with their hundred wilful and bullying sons. Guided by the wise Vidur, Kunti understood the importance of remaining calm and humble while her children grew up, waiting for the right time to address the issue of the future king of Hastinapur and her children’s inheritance.

These years were bittersweet for the Pandava family. On one hand, they were blessed with the love, generosity, and guidance of Bhishma, the great grandfather of the princes. On the other hand, they faced the injustices of Dhritarashtra and the jealousy and dangerous pranks of the Kaurava princes. Throughout this period, Kunti stood out for her patience and perseverance. As a widowed mother, she single-mindedly raised her sons, according to Kshatriya dharma, preparing them for their rightful place in the world.

7. Life in Hastinapura

Kunti’s wisdom and strength were clear as she guided her sons through their trials and tribulations. One of the most significant incidents during this period was the House of Lac incident, a plot by the Kauravas to kill the Pandavas by burning them alive in a palace made of highly flammable materials. Warned by their uncle Vidura, the Pandavas and their mother Kunti escaped through a secret tunnel, leaving behind bodies to mislead their enemies into believing they were dead. Subsequently, they lived in disguise, wandering through forests and rural areas, and engaging in various adventures, including Bhima’s marriage to Hidimba and his defeat of the demon Bakasura in Ekachakra. Eventually, they travelled to Panchala to take part in Draupadi’s Swayamvara, where Arjuna, disguised as a Brahmin, won Draupadi’s hand by succeeding in a challenging archery contest.

8. The Exile and the Forest Years

The Pandavas’ exile marked another challenging phase in Kunti’s life. A rigged game of dice caused the Pandavas to lose everything and they were forced into exile for thirteen years, including one year of incognito living. During this period, Kunti stayed back in Hastinapur, enduring the pain of separation from her sons and the uncertainty of their future. Despite the physical distance, Kunti’s influence remained strong. Her teachings and values continued to guide the Pandavas. The stories of their valour and righteousness during the exile reflect Kunti’s indelible impact on their character.

9. Kunti’s advice to Yudhishthira on the eve of the war.

Kunti advised Yudhishthira on the eve of the war, clearly reflects her political acumen and strategic agility. Kunti told Yudhishthira to ally with those who are discontented with the enemy, such as the angry, the covetous, the weakened, the jealous, the humiliated, and the prideful challengers. By doing so, he could dismantle the enemy’s strength like a tempest scatter cloud. She urged him to give wealth upon potential allies, share their food, be active, and speak kindly to them to gain their support and leadership. She explained that when the enemy perceives their adversary as fearless; they become troubled, akin to fearing a snake in their chamber. Kunti emphasized that if an enemy cannot be subjugated, they should be conciliated with gifts and diplomacy, as it can lead to increased wealth and reverence. Conversely, losing wealth leads to abandonment and mistrust. She cautioned that a king should never reveal distress, as fear shown by a king spread to the kingdom, causing disunity and defections. Loyal friends would remain but feel helpless. Thus, even in calamity, a king must remain composed to maintain unity and strength among his subjects and allies.

8. Kunti and Karna

As the Kurukshetra war approached, Kunti revealed to Karna that he was her first-born son, imploring him to join the Pandavas. Karna refused, but promised not to kill any Pandava except Arjuna.

9. Comparing Kunti and Gandhari

Kunti and Gandhari were women of remarkable strength and resilience, willing to endure pain, sacrifice comfort, and stand up for their beliefs. Despite their virtues, both were also stubborn and impulsive, making decisions in their youth that they regretted later in life.

Kunti’s greatest mistake was her immaculate conception of Karna out of wedlock, followed by her decision to disown him and set him afloat. Keeping this secret for too long and revealing it to Karna only at the last moment exacerbated the situation. An earlier disclosure of the truth could have allowed her to persuade Karna to influence his friend Duryodhana, potentially preventing the war.

Gandhari’s decision to blindfold herself symbolized a significant lack of foresight. Had she been able to see, she might have intervened in her brother’s poisoning of her sons’ minds, instilling better values and potentially preventing the ensuing conflict.

Despite their flaws, Kunti and Gandhari exemplified righteousness in many ways—whether following their husbands’ destinies, guiding their children (though Gandhari’s guidance came too late), or their dignified behaviour during and after the war, both in Hastinapur and later in the forest. They were human and had their weaknesses, proving the saying “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” The humiliation of her daughter-in-law Draupadi particularly enraged Kunti, who experienced many ups and downs, by the Kaurava brothers. This filled her with a burning desire for revenge, ensuring her sons avenged the insult.

Gandhari, while accepting the sins and fate of her sons, was devastated by their loss and cursed Krishna with all her might, condemning him and his clan to doom for the tactics and deceit used to win the war.

Both women were aware of right and wrong, always striving to follow the path of dharma. Trapped by their life circumstances, they lived their destinies with grace, dignity, and an extraordinary strength of character.

10. Kunti Sthuthi – Kunti’s obeisance to Lord Krishna

Kunti’s obeisance to Lord Krishna in the Mahabharata is a profound expression of devotion and gratitude. As the mother of the Pandavas, she acknowledges Krishna’s divine nature and the blessings he has bestowed on her family, praising him as the Supreme Being, the creator, and protector of the universe. She recognizes his infinite qualities and his role in upholding righteousness and destroying evil, appreciating his personal care during her family’s hardships. Despite immense challenges, including her sons’ exile and trials, Kunti remains devoted to Krishna. She begins her prayer by recognizing his omnipotence and omnipresence, expressing gratitude for his protection and guidance in their lives, recounting instances where he saved them from peril. Remarkably, Kunti views their adversities as blessings that brought them closer to Krishna and deepened their faith. In a display of profound devotion, she requests continued challenges to keep her connected to Krishna, reflecting her belief that spiritual growth arises from overcoming difficulties. She expresses unconditional surrender to Krishna’s will, accepting both joy and sorrow as his gifts, and acknowledges his role in maintaining cosmic order through his various incarnations. Kunti’s prayer highlights both her recognition of Krishna’s cosmic role and her personal relationship with him, showing deep affection and respect, and exemplifying unwavering faith, deep spiritual insight, and extraordinary devotion amidst life’s greatest challenges.

9. Last Days

Even after the Pandavas’ hard-fought victory, the enigma of Kunti’s final act remains. Unlike a traditional victorious queen mother, she doesn’t preside over the new empire. Instead, she chooses a path shrouded in mystery.

After the war, Kunti revealed Karna’s true identity to the Pandavas, who were devastated. She then elects to join the defeated Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, and even Vidura, the righteous brother of the Kaurava king, to the forest.  The narrative then takes a tragic turn. A forest fire engulfs their dwelling, and Kunti perishes alongside them. Kunti’s final act remains an open question, a testament to the Mahabharata’s enduring power to provoke thought and discussion. It’s a poignant ending to a life filled with both strength and complexity.

10. Kunti in Deva Loka

Kunti, along with Pandu and Madri, ascended to Deva Loka (the abode of the gods) after their earthly lives ended.

11. Character Analysis

Kunti’s character in the Mahabharata is held in high esteem within the Hindu tradition. She is portrayed as a very pious and loyal wife, exemplifying great self-control. Her character is a blend of strength, devotion, and human vulnerability. Her early life choices, driven by curiosity and fear, had far-reaching consequences. Yet, her unwavering devotion to her children and her ability to guide them through their challenges highlight her inner strength.

Her prayer to Krishna, expressing gratitude for adversities, reveals a deep spiritual insight. Kunti’s understanding that true devotion is often forged in the crucible of suffering reflects her profound faith. Her request for continued challenges to stay connected to Krishna shows a unique perspective on spiritual growth.

Despite her mistakes, Kunti’s commitment to dharma and her resilience in the face of hardships make her a revered figure in Hindu mythology. Kunti’s life is a testament to her resilience, devotion, and wisdom. Her role as a mother and queen in the Mahabharata highlights the virtues of self-sacrifice, strength, and unwavering faith. Her story continues to inspire and teach valuable lessons on duty, love, and the complexities of human relationships.

12. Conclusion

Kunti’s life is a saga of trials, strength, and devotion. Her journey from a curious princess to a devoted mother and a spiritually enlightened woman is filled with profound lessons. Her character, marked by resilience and a deep sense of duty, continues to inspire generations. Kunti’s story is a reminder of the complexities of human life and the strength required to uphold righteousness in the face of adversity. Her unwavering faith, despite immense trials, serves as an enduring example of devotion and resilience. Through her life, Kunti teaches us the importance of staying true to one’s values, the power of forgiveness, and the profound impact of a mother’s love and guidance.