Sameer: refined section also and cleaned formatting

2025-12-26T13:48:53Z

refined section also and cleaned formatting

>245CMR: Undid revision 1029982517 by 103.25.240.1 (talk), unnecessary addition. Also unsourced

2021-06-23T05:23:01Z

Undid revision 1029982517 by 103.25.240.1 (talk), unnecessary addition. Also unsourced

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{{other uses}}
{{short description|Mother of the Pandavas in the Hindu epic Mahabharata}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox deity
| member_of = [[Panchakanya]]
| name = Kunti
| image = Raja Pandu and Matakunti LACMA M.69.13.6.jpg
| caption = A late 17th-century painting of Pandu and Kunti from [[Kashmir]].
| spouse = [[Pandu]]
| children = [[Karna]], [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]] (sons), [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]] (foster sons)
| siblings = 14 siblings including [[Vasudeva]]
| type = Hindu
| parents = {{unbulleted list|[[Shurasena]] (father)|Marisha (mother)|[[Kuntibhoja]] (adoptive father)}}
| affiliation = [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru queen]], [[Panchakanya]]
| texts = [[Mahabharata]], [[Bhagavata Purana]]
| other_names = Pritha
| gender = Female
| Devanagari = कुंती
| Sanskrit_transliteration = ''Kuntī''
}}
'''Kunti''' ({{lang-sa|कुन्ती}}, {{IAST3|Kuntī}}), also known as '''Pritha''' ({{lang-sa|पृथा}}, {{IAST3|Pṛthā}}), is one of the female protagonists of the epic, ''[[Mahabharata]]''. She is best known as the mother of the [[Pandavas]], the main protagonists of the epic, and the warrior [[Karna]]. She is also mentioned in the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' because of her connection with [[Krishna]], the main figure of the text. She is described to be beautiful, intelligent and shrewd.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kunti|url=http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/kunti.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.mythfolklore.net}}</ref><ref>'' A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature'' by Dowson, John (1820-1881)</ref>

Born to ''[[Yadava]]'' chief [[Shurasena]], Pritha was adopted by her childless uncle, [[Kuntibhoja]] and was renamed as Kunti. During her teenage years, she impressed sage [[Durvasa]] and was blessed with a divine ''mantra''. Out of curiosity, the young lady used the mantra to invoke [[Surya]] and was blessed with a son named [[Karna]]. As he was born out of wedlock, Kunti had to abandon him to save herself from society.

After reaching maturity, she chose [[Pandu]], the king of [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru]], as her husband, but her married life was disturbed when [[Madri]], princess of Madra, became Pandu's second wife.{{sfn|Bhattacharya|2004}} One day, Pandu was cursed to die if he tried to embrace any woman. This made him abandon his kingdom and live in a forest with his two wives. Kunti, upon her husband's request, used her mantra and was blessed with three children - [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]] and [[Arjuna]]. Later she shared her mantra with Madri, who was blessed with [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. Pandu died early and Madri immolated herself, so Kunti adopted her stepsons and took her children to [[Hastinapura]], the capital of Kuru.

Along with the Pandavas, Kunti survived the [[Lakshagriha]] and during their hiding, she ordered Bhima to marry [[Hidimbi]], a ''[[Rakshasi]]''. Because of Kunti's misunderstanding, [[Draupadi]], princess of Panchala, was married to the five Pandavas. After [[Indraprastha]] was established, Kunti stayed in Hastinapura and had an affectionate relationship with her sister in law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Before the [[Kurukshetra War]], Kunti met Karna and asked him to join the Pandava side, but upon his refusal, she convinced him to spare five out of her six children. After Yudhishthira became the emperor of the Kuru, she retired to the forest and died.

In Hinduism, she is extolled as one of the ''[[panchakanya]]'' ("five virgins"), archetypes of female chastity whose names are believed to dispel sin when recited. Many praise her as a mature, foresighted and affectionate lady.

==Birth and early life==

Kunti was the biological daughter of [[Shurasena]], a [[Yadava]] ruler.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Her birth name was ''Pritha''. She is also said as the reincarnation of the goddess Siddhi. She was the sister of [[Vasudeva]], the father of [[Krishna]] and shared a close relationship with [[Krishna]]. Her father gave [[Kunti]] to his childless cousin [[Kuntibhoja]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXI|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01112.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref>
[[File:Sury_gives_boon_to_Kunti.jpg|alt=|left|303x303px|thumb|Kunti invokes Surya out of curiosity]]
Once Rishi [[Durvasa]] visited [[Kuntibhoja]]. Being extremely pleased by the all comforts, patience, and devotion offered by Kunti, he offered her a mantra that would invoke any god of her choice and he would bless her with children.
Out of impetuous curiosity, Kunti invoked the god [[Surya]]. Bound by the power of the mantra, Surya blessed her with a child. To her surprise, the child was born with his sacred armour on. Out of fear of the public and with no choice, Kunti put the child in a basket and set him afloat the Ganga river. He later became famous as [[Karna]].<ref name=":1" />

== Marriage and children ==

[[Kuntibhoja]] organized Kunti's [[swayamvara]]. Kunti chose King [[Pandu]] of [[Hastinapur]], making her the Queen of Hastinapur.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mahabharata, Book 1: Adi Parva: Sambhava Parva: Section CXII|url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01113.htm|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Soon after, during his mission to expand his empire, Pandu, on Bhishma's proposal, married [[Madri]], a princess of [[Madra]] in order to secure the vassalage of [[Madra Kingdom|Madra]].<ref name=":2"></ref> Kunti was disturbed by her husband's actions, but eventually reconciled with him.
[[Pandu]], while hunting in a forest, mistakenly shot and killed Rishi Kindama and his wife as they had taken the form of [[deer]] to mate. The dying sage then cursed him to die if he tries to make love with his wife. Pandu renounced the kingdom and went into exile with Kunti and Madri.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ramankutty|first=P.V.|title=Curse as a motif in the Mahābhārata|year=1999|publisher=Nag Publishers|location=Delhi|isbn=9788170814320|edition=1.}}</ref>
[[File: Boon of Indra to Kunti.jpg|165px|thumb|Kunti invokes Indra for a son on the request of Pandu]]
[[Pandu]] could not make love with his wives due to the curse by sage [[Kindama]]. A remorseful Pandu renounced the kingdom and went into exile with Kunti and [[Madri]]. He met some sages and asked them away for heaven and salvation. They said, without children, one can never aspire for heaven. When Pandu expressed to Kunti his despair at the prospect of dying childless, she mentioned the boon granted to her. He happily advised her to beget children by suitable, illustrious men. Thus, Kunti used the boon granted to her by Sage [[Durvasa]] (which she had used to bear [[Karna]]) to bear three sons—[[Yudhishthira]] by [[Yama (Hinduism)|Dharmaraja]] - [[deva (Hinduism)|god]] of Justice; [[Bhima]] by [[Vayu]] - [[deva (Hinduism)|god]] of [[wind]], and [[Arjuna]] by [[Indra]] - the king of [[Svarga]] (Heaven). She also invoked [[Ashvins]] for [[Madri]] on her behest and [[Madri]] gave birth to twin sons, [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]].<ref>Edward Delavan Perry, {{cite journal|jstor=592191|title=Indra in the Rig-Veda |publisher=Journal of the American Oriental Society vol. 11.1885 |page=121|last1=Perry |first1=Edward Delavan |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |year=1885 |volume=11 }}</ref>

Despite that rivalry between her and Madri, Kunti gave special care to Madreyas (sons of Madri) especially Sahadeva the youngest one. Madri gave tribute to Kunti by saying

''“You are blessed.
''There is none like you''
''you are my light,''
''my guide'',
''most respect-worthy'',
g''reater in status,''
''purer in virtue.”''
''I.125.66-68<ref name=":2"></ref>''

==Widowhood==

[[File:Vidura consoling kunti.jpg|170px|left|thumb|Kunti is consoled by Vidura]]
One day, Pandu, forgetting his curse, attempted to make love with his wife Madri. But, as a result of Kindama's curse, he died. Madri committed suicide out of remorse that caused her husband's death. Kunti was left helpless in the forest with her children.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-08-31|title=Chapter 60-Death of King Pandu and Madri at the same time|url=https://anamikaghose.wordpress.com/death-of-king-pandu-and-madri-at-the-same-time/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=The Tales of India|language=en}}</ref>

After the death of Pandu and Madri, Kunti took care of all five Pandava children taking them back to Hastinapur. Dhritrashtra's sons never liked them. During their childhood, [[Duryodhana]] poisoned and tried to kill Bhima but he was saved. Kunti was hurt by this but was consoled by [[Vidura]]. Later the Kuru Princes were sent for training to [[Drona]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110713024835/http://www.india-intro.com/religion/mahabharat/210-mahabharat-the-story-of-drona-teacher-of-kauravas-and-pandavas.html The Story of Drona - the Teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas</ref>

==Hiding==
[[File: Pandavs Journeying With Their Mother.jpg|thumb|180px|Pandavas travelling with their mother.]]
After the princes finished their training, they returned to Hastinapura. After some time [[Duryodhana]] and his maternal uncle [[Shakuni]] tried to burned Pandavas alive along with Kunti for which they built the palace out of lac ([[Lakshagriha]]) in a village named Varanāvata. The Pandavas, though, managed to escape the house of lac with the help of [[Vidura]] through a secret tunnel. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-07|title=Lakshagraha of Mahabharat|url=http://www.nerdstravel.com/lakshagraha-of-mahabharat/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=Nerd's Travel|language=en-US}}</ref>

After surviving from the Lakshagriha Kunti and five Pandavas lived in [[Ekachakra|Ekachakra village]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=November 2|first1=India Today Web Desk|last2=November 2|first2=2017UPDATED|last3=Ist|first3=2017 15:09|title=ASI grants permission to excavate palace Kauravas commissioned to kill Pandavas|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/fyi/story/asi-house-of-lac-lakshagriha-mahabharata-kauravas-pandavas-yudhishthira-bhima-duryodhana-1077215-2017-11-02|access-date=2020-08-08|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref> During their stay, Kunti and the Pandavas came to know of a demon, [[Bakasura]], who ate people. Villagers had to send one member of their family and food to Bakasura, who devour both. When Kunti heard the cries of a Brahmin - who had provided her and her son's shelter in Ekachakra, Kunti consoled him and suggested that instead of a Brahmin's family, her son Bhima would face the demon. Kunti engineered a plot where Bhima would be able to face and kill the demon. The powerful Bhima brought his might to the fore and defeated Bakasura.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/75 75]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>
{{Multiple image
| image1 = Hidimbi as in Human form.jpg
| width1 = 135px
| caption1 = Kunti accepting Hidimbi's request.
| image2 = Kunti telling about her fault to Her elder son.jpg
| caption2 = Kunti apologises in front of Draupadi and Yudhishthira.
| width2 = 150px
| align = left
| direction =
| total_width = 300
| alt1 =
}}
Later, Bhima slays the [[rakshasa]] [[Hidimba]] and he is beseeched by [[Hidimbi]], Hidimba's sister, to wed her. Bhima is reluctant, but Kunti ordered Bhima to marry Hidimbi seeing merit in the woman. Hidimbi would go on to birth [[Ghatotkacha]], who later takes part in the [[Kurukshetra War]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-01-22|title=Marriage of Bhima and Hidimba – The Mahabharata|url=http://ritsin.com/bhima-hidimba-mahabharata.html/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=Indian Mythology|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Pandavas attended the [[swayamvara]] of [[Draupadi]] in [[Panchala]]. [[Arjuna]] was able to win [[Draupadi]]'s hand. The Pandavas returned to their hut and said that they have bought alms (signifying [[Kanyadan]]). Kunti misunderstood them and asked the Pandavas to share whatever they had brought. Kunti was shocked after realizing the implications of her words, that is, all of the [[Pandavas]] married [[Draupadi]] thinking that they are obeying their mother's orders. Therefore she scolded her children for treating a woman like alms. However, Draupadi accepted this as her fate.<ref name="johnson-arjuna">{{cite encyclopedia|last=Johnson|first=W. J. |article=Arjuna |title=A Dictionary of Hinduism|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198610250.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19861-025-0}}</ref>

==Role in the events of Hastinapura==
When Kunti, along with the Pandavas and Draupadi, returned to Hastinapura, they faced many problems including Draupadi's [[polyandry]] and succession dispute between Yudhishthira and Duryodhana. On the advice of [[Bhishma]], Pandavas were given a barren land to rule which was developed into [[Indraprastha]]. However Kunti remained in Hastinapura with are sister in law, [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ago|first=Amarsingh1in #mgsc • 2 Years|date=2018-07-13|title=Hastinapur will be surprised by the secret of the city of Mahabharata|url=https://steemit.com/mgsc/@amarsingh1/hastinapur-will-be-surprised-by-the-secret-of-the-city-of-mahabharata|access-date=2020-08-31|website=Steemit|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Narlikar|first1=Amrita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uMn6AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA225|title=Bargaining with a Rising India: Lessons from the Mahabharata|last2=Narlikar|first2=Aruna|date=2014-03-20|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-161205-3|language=en}}</ref>

When the Pandavas lose the kingdom in a dice game and are forced to go into exile for thirteen years, Kunti is forced by King Dhritarashtra to remain in the capital. She chose to stay in [[Vidura]]'s house rather than the royal palace.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mani|first=Vettam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mvXsDwAAQBAJ&q=kunti+vidura%27s+palace&pg=PA443|title=Puranic Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Work with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|date=2015-01-01|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0597-2|language=en}}</ref>

==During the Kurukshetra war==

As war approached, Kunti met [[Karna]] and in desperation to keep her all children alive, asked Karna to leave the side of [[Duryodhana]] and join the Pandavas. Karna denied the offer, as he could not betray his friend. However, he promised Kunti that he would not kill any of his brothers except Arjuna, thus following both Mitra dharma and Putra dharma. He also promised that at the end of the war she would still have five sons, the fifth one be either Arjuna or Karna himself.<ref name=":1">{{cite book|last=McGrath |first=Kevin |year=2004 |title=The Sanskrit Hero: Karna in Epic Mahābhārata |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=90-04-13729-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YkmXk3-1j7UC |access-date=25 November 2013 }}</ref><br><br>Despite supporting her children, Kunti stayed in the [[Kaurava]] camp along with her sister-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. After the death of Karna, Kunti disclosed the secret of Karna's birth to Pandavas and others. All were shocked to learn the fact they committed fratricide. The Pandavas were furious with Kunti, especially Yudhisthira, who cursed Kunti and women of the world that they shall be unable to keep any secret anymore. If Kunti hadn't kept it a secret, there were chances that the war would've been averted and millions of lives would've been spared.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Women can't keep secrets – Here's why Yudhisthira cursed Kunti and women of the world!|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/article/women-can-t-keep-secrets-heres-why-yudhisthira-cursed-kunti-and-women-of-the-world/590875|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.timesnownews.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Later life and death==
[[File:Kunti Gandhari Dhrtarashtra.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Kunti]] leading [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Description: Gandhari, blindfolded, supporting [[Dhritarashtra]] and following Kunti when Dhritarashtra became old and infirm and retired to the forest. A miniature painting from a sixteenth-century manuscript of part of the Razmnama, the Persian translation of the [[Hindu]] epic [[Mahabharata]]]]
After the [[Kurukshetra war]], Kunti lived with her sons for many years. After she felt that her job in the world was over, she moved to a forest near the Himalayas with her brothers-in-law [[Vidura]] and [[Dhritarashtra]], [[Sanjaya]] and sister-in-law [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. Vidura died two years after they left. Later Sanjaya left for the Himalayas and the left ones perished in a forest fire.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.manushi-india.org/pdfs_issues/PDF%20143/05%20Panchkanya%2025-33%20%202-9.pdf|title=Kunti|access-date=10 January 2013|publisher=Manushi India Organization}}</ref><ref>Mani pp.442-3</ref>
== Portrayal in the ''Mahabharata'' ==
In most tellings of the [[Mahabharata]], Kunti is depicted as a mild-mannered woman with high moral and social values. She constantly guides her sons on their actions and keeps the family bound as one, never to have them fight among each other. She is said to have a great amount of respect for her brother-in-law [[Dhritarashtra]] and [[Vidura]] and for Dhritarashtra's wife [[Gandhari (character)|Gandhari]]. She is also said to have an affectionate relationship with her daughter-in-law [[Draupadi]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Manisha|date=2014-10-15|title=Kunti And Gandhari - The Two Matriarchs Of Mahabharata|url=https://www.dollsofindia.com/library/kunti-gandhari/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=Dolls of India|language=en}}</ref>

However, several versions of the Mahabharata depict her to be shrewd and calculative. Early in her life, she rejects her son born out of wedlock ([[Karna]]) in societal fear, only to confess to him several years later, in solitude, that she birthed him. She tries to have him shift parties out of fear of losing her five sons. In exile with her husband [[Pandu]], she shares her boon with his second wife [[Madri]] reluctantly and is always in fear of being out-shadowed. It is said that Kunti did not share the boon for a second time with Madri, in the fear that Madri's children would outnumber her own.<ref>{{Cite web|last=admin|date=2020-04-20|title=Kunti Devi From Mahabharata: A Character Sketch|url=https://www.meghnaunni.com/2020/04/kunti-devi-from-mahabharata-a-character-sketch/|access-date=2020-08-20|website=Meghnaunni.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
Various actresses portrayed the role in various films and TV serials.
*[[Durga Khote]] in ''[[Maharathi Karna]]'' (1944 film)
*[[G Varalakshmi]] in ''[[Bhishma (1962 film)|Bhishma]]'' (1965 film)
*M V Rajamma in ''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]'' (1964 film, Tamil)
*[[Achala Sachdev]] in ''[[Mahabharat (1965 film)|Mahabharat]]'' (1965 film)
*[[Rushyendramani]] in ''[[Sri Krishnavataram]]'' (1967 film)
*[[S. Varalakshmi]] in ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' (1977 film)
*[[Nazneen]] in ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' series (1988)
*Miriam Goldschmidt in ''[[The Mahabharata (1989 film)|The Mahabharata]]'' (1989 film)
*[[Lata Haya]] in ''[[Krishna (TV series)|Krishna]]'' (series)
*[[Neena Gupta]] in ''[[Ek Aur Mahabharat]]'' (1997 series)
*[[Shalini Kapoor]] in ''Maharathi Karna'' (2001 series)
*[[Sudha Chandran]] in ''[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]]''(2003 series)
*[[Jaya Bhattacharya]] in ''[[Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki]]'' (2008 series)
* [[Shafaq Naaz]] in Star Plus's ''[[Mahabharat (2013 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' (2013 series)
*[[Deepti Naval]] voiced the character in the animated movie, [[Mahabharat (2013 film)|Mahabharat]] (2013 film)
*[[Priya Bathija]] in ''[[Suryaputra Karn]]'' (2015 series)
*[[Sayantani Ghosh]] in ''[[Karn Sangini]]'' (2018 series)
* [[Resha Konkar|Reshma Konkar]] in [[RadhaKrishn|Radhakrishn]] (2018 series)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|commonscat=yes|n=no|s=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no}}
* [https://www.vedabase.com/en/tqk ''Teachings of Queen Kunti'']
{{Mahābhārata}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category: People related to Krishna]]
[[Category: Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category: Indian queen consorts]]
[[Category: Ancient Indian women]]
[[Category: Characters in the Bhagavata Purana]]

Kunti - Revision history

Sameer: refined section also and cleaned formatting

>245CMR: Undid revision 1029982517 by 103.25.240.1 (talk), unnecessary addition. Also unsourced