Kunti’s maturity and
foresight, the ability to observe life closely and use the learning from
experiences to arrive at swift decisions that benefit both society and her
children, set her apart and above all characters in the epic, except
perhaps Krishna.
In commanding Bhima to marry
Hidimba, Kunti showed her clear desire for righting the injustices done to
her and her sons. Her decision to proceed to Panchala is another step in
that direction, aiming at winning Draupadi to forge a princely alliance
with the traditional enemy of Hastinapura and challenge the Kauravas. In
Panchala she chooses to stay in the hut of a potter, even lower down in
the caste and economic hierarchy than in Ekachakra. She brings up her sons
from virtually the lowest rung of society to become rulers of the kingdom.
In that process she turns necessity to glorious gain. The enforced exile
brings her sons into intimate contact with the common people, so that they
develop the feeling for the felt needs of the vast majority that equips
them as true rajas, those who discharge the duty of pleasing their
subjects.
Kunti’s foresight perceives
that any split among the united five will frustrate the goal of mastering
Hastinapura. Moreover, in Ekachakra Vyasa had already briefed them that
Draupadi was fated to have five husbands because of the boon Shiva had
given her in a previous birth and had urged them to proceed to Panchala to
win her as their common wife (Adi Parva, 168). Hence she plays that
grim charade of pretending not to know what Bhima and Arjuna mean when
they ask her to see what they have brought home.
– Continued
Panchkanya Pages : 1 |
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25 | 26 | 27
Now also in Hindi at
http://www.hindinest.com/visheshank/01stri/panchkanya1.htm
Now also in French at http://www.neurom.ch/mbh/kanya.pdf
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