|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 29 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Kunthi Sthuthi

Devi Kunthi the mother of five Pandavas and Karna had to undergo various struggles from her young age, she had immense courage, did not let her down when her elder son was killed by the younger one, like these several hard occasions, were faced with extreme calmness.  She had intense devotion and faith on supreme Lord Krishna; hence she did not shatter or distressed even in the worst of the worst situations in her life.  Once Maharishi Durvasa visited the palace of King Kunthibhobja was reverentially served by Devi Kunthi for several days.  Maharishi Durvasa was highly pleased and offered a prayer as a boon to have a child in deities, thus Devi Kunthi who was unmarried and too young wanted to test the boon given by the Maharishi, she recited the chant contemplating upon her beloved deity Lord Surya and she had to yield for his desire to have a child in her, she pleaded before Lord Surya was pacified with another boon to remain youthful even after the birth of the child.  Thus Devi Kunthi got pregnant with Karna, the child born was safely deposited in a river immediately after the birth. 

Later, she married to King Pandu of Hastinapura, the situation in their married life forced the couple to seek the deities for children.    Thus,  Kunthi had three children from Lord Dharmaraja, Lord Indra, and Lord Vayu respectively.  King Pandu married Devi Madhri and she had two children Nakula and Sahadeva from Lord Ashwini Kumaras.  Devi Madhri sacrificed her life in the funeral pyre of King Pandu.  Thus Devi Kunthi became a widow at a young age, took great care of these five children who had to experience constant torture from the Kauravas. Her children were attempted to burn alive by Kauravas, were escaped miraculously. Arjuna got married to Draupadi had to share with his brothers at his mother’s advice. There are several difficult occasions Devi Kunthi proved the strength of her devotion to Supreme Lord Krishna.

The war between the Kauravas and Pandavas were declared, Devi Kunthi came to know about Radheya/Karna who is none other than her elder son; approaches him and requests Karna to leave the association with Duryodhana.  Karna had to discourage his mother explaining his real position when his mother has discarded him, he had Duryodhana as shelter place and he was honored by Duryodhana, so he is liable to be with Duryodhana in the great war of Kurukshetra. Finally, Karna promises to his mother that she will have five sons alive.

During the battle of Kurukshetra Devi Kunthi send her son Arjuna battle against Karna and wishing his victory, she was neither shattered or disappointed, she was well aware of the fact that as long as Krishna with Pandavas, the Dharma and Pandavas will remain protected. Another incident, when Dharmaputhra was offering Pindadhanam for his deceased brothers, Devi Kunthi intervene Dharmaputhra and instructed him to offer initial Pindadhanam for Karna, the latter was stunned and refuses to follow her order.  Krishna with a mischievous smile advice Dharmaputhra to follow the instruction of his mother, later Pandavas came to know about their relationship to Karna became inconsolable, but Devi Kunthi remained calm.