कुन्तीkuntī

कुन्ती (kuntī) is a Sanskrit word meaning the mother of the Pandavas, also known as Pritha, name of a Rakshasi, of a river, the wife of a Brahman, the plant Boswellia thurifera, a fragrant resin. Its 12 recorded definitions are grouped into 5 contexts, among them Kuntī, the mythological Queen and mother of Pāṇḍavas, Kuntī, a plant or resin, Kuntī, a river.

Definitions: 12

View Declension Tables , 72 forms

Meanings by context

Kuntī, the mythological Queen and mother of Pāṇḍavas

6 definitions

The mother of the Pandavas, also known as Pritha.

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

an epithet of Pritha, wife of Pandu

— Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Pritha, one of the two wives of Pandu

— Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

one of the two wives of Pandu

— Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary

daughter of Shura, adopted by Kuntibhoja, mother of Karna by Surya, wife of Pandu, and mother of Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, and Arjuna

कुन्ती (kuntī) [Printed book page 436-1]
Kuntī (“the daughter of the Kunti king”), daughter of Śūra,

adopted by Kuntibhoja, by Sūrya mother of Karṇa, wife of

Pāṇḍu, and mother of Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena, and Arjuna;

her proper name was Pṛthā (P.).—§ 3 (Anukram.): I, 1, 99,

124, 151.—[§ 4 (do.): I, 1, 175 (P.).]—§ 11 (Parvasaṅgr.):

I, 2, 589 (gūḍhotpannasya cākhyānaṃ Karṇasya Pṛthayātmanaḥ),

612 (P.).—§ 131 (cf. Aṃśāvataraṇap.): Śūra (the Yadu,

father of Vasudeva) gave his daughter Pṛthā as daughter to

Kuntibhoja, the son of his paternal aunt, who was without

offspring. Durvāsas, satisfied with her worshipful attentions,

gave her a mantra by which she could summon whatever

deity she liked and obtain children. Thus by Arka (the

Sun) she brought forth in secrecy a child who was born with

ear-rings and a coat of mail. Kuntī (= Pṛthā) threw him (i.e.

Karṇa (b)) into the water (cf. § 547): I, 67, [2764 (P.)],

2774.—[§ 131b (Karṇa): I, 67, 2783 (Pṛthāyāḥ prathamaḥ

sutaḥ, i.e. Karṇa).]—§ 132 (Aṃśāvat.): I, 67, 2794

(incarnation of the goddess Siddhi).—§ 157 (Pūruvaṃś.):

I, 95, ††3811 (Pṛthā, wife of Pāṇḍu), ††3814 (putrān

utpādayām āsa Dharmād Yudhiṣṭhiraṃ Mārutād Bhīmasenaṃ

Śakrād Arjunam iti, cf. § 190), ††3816, ††3818, ††3819

(cf. §§ 192 ff.).—[§ 160 (do.): I, 95, †3835 (P., cf. § 785).]

—§ 175 (Karṇasaṃbhava): I, 111, [4382 (P., daughter of

Śūra, adopted by Kuntibhoja)], 4388, (4391), [4397

(Kuntirājasutāṃ), 4401 (Vārṣṇeyī)], 4402 (bore Karṇa from

Sūrya, cf. § 547).—§ 176 (Kuntīvivāha): I, 112, [4412

(Pṛthā duhitā Kuntibhojasya), 4417 (Kuntibhojasutā)], 4418,

4419, 4421, 4424 (married to Pāṇḍu).—§ 177 (Pāṇḍudigvi-

jaya): I, 113, 4444.—§ 178 (Pāṇḍu): I, 114, 4474, 4477.—

§ 180 (Gāndhārīputrotpatti): I, 115, 4484.—§ 184 (do.):

I, 119, 4613, 4616 (followed Pāṇḍu to the wood).—§ 185

(do.): I, 120, 4666, 4667, [4671 (P.), 4675 (P.)], 4677.—

§ 186 (do.): I, 121, 4680, (4710).—§ 187 (do.): I, 122,

4717.—§ 189 (do.): I, 122, 4746 (told Pāṇḍu of the mantra

she had acquired (cf. § 131)).—§ 190 (Pāṇḍavotpatti): I,

123, 4759, 4762, 4765, 4770, 4774, 4782, 4787, 4793, 4794,

4799 (requested by Pāṇḍu, she by her mantra summoned

Dharma, Vāyu, and Indra, by whom she bore Yudhiṣṭhira,

Bhīmasena, and Arjuna).—§ 191 (Arjuna): I, 123, 4803.—

§ 191 (Pāṇḍavotpatti): I, 123, 4833 (refused to have more

children).—§ 192 (do.): I, 124, 4839, [4840 (Kuntirājasutā),

4841 (Kuntisutāṃ)], 4844, 4859, [4860 (P.)] (communicated

the mantra to Mādrī).—§ 193 (Pāṇḍu): I, 125, 4880, 4882,

(4888), 4893 (Pāṇḍu's death).—§ 194 (do.): I, 126, 4921

(Puruhūtād ayaṃ jajñe Kuntyām eva Dhanañjayaḥ).—§ 195

(do.): I, 127, 4934 (Pāṇḍu and Mādrī are cremated), 4957.

—§ 196 (Vyāsa): I, 128, 4964.—§ 197 (Bhīmasenarasapāna):

I, [128, 5026 (Āryakena…Pṛthāyā āryakena)]; 129,

5038, 5043, 5045, 5051.—§ 208 (Astradarśana): I, 134,

5326; 135, 5359, [5363 (Pṛthāraṇīsamudbhūtaiḥ, sc. Bhīmasena

and Arjuna)]; 136, [5381 (kanyāgarbhaḥ…Pṛthāyāḥ,

i.e. Karṇa)], [5405 (Kuntibhojasutā)], 5406, [5409 (Pṛthāyās

tanayaḥ kanīyān, i.e. Arjuna)]; 137, 5441 (rejoiced at seeing

Karṇa installed as king of the Aṅgas).—§ 213 (Jatugṛhap.):

I, 141, 5636, 5638, 5639, 5642; 142, 5686; 144, 5727;

145, 5762; 148, 5823, [5824 (Mādhavīṃ)]; 150, [5867

(Kuntirājasutāṃ)], 5869, 5872; 151, 5897, 5905 (Kunti-

rājasutāṃ) (K. and her sons escaped from the lac house).—

Page436-b+ 63

§ 214 (Hiḍimbavadhap.): I, [152, 5941 (P.)]; 154, 6008;

155, 6045; 156, 6086, 6094.—§ 215 (Bakavadhap.): I,

157, 6107, [6110 (P.)], 6111, 6112, [6113 (P.)], 6120;

159, 6204; 160, (6205); 161, (6222), (6233), [6239 (P.)],

6240; 162, (6244), (6252).—§ 216 (Caitrarathap.): I, 165,

6320.—§ 219 (do.): I, 168, 6411, (6412), 6419, 6420.—

§ 220 (do.): I, 169, 6436.—[§ 234 (Svayaṃvarap.): I, 189,

†7083 (P.), †7084 (P.).]—§ 235 (do.): I, [196, 7129 (P.)];

191, [†7131 (P.)], †7132, †7133, (†7134), †7136 (when the

Pāṇḍavas had won Draupadī, K. said: “Enjoy ye all”).—

§ 236 (do.): I, 192, †7159, †7164.—§ 237 (Vaivāhikap.):

I, 194, †7205, †7211; 195, 7227, 7235, 7249; 196, (7269),

7273.—§ 240 (do.): I, 199, 7348, [7350 (P.)].—§ 241

(Vidurāgamanap.): I, 200, 7370; 203, [7453 (P.)], 7455;

204, 7467.—§ 243 (do.): I, 206, [7522 (P.)], 7531, [7540

(P.)], 7544.—§ 244 (Rājyalābhap.): I, 207, 7555.—§ 253

(Haraṇāharaṇap.): I, 221, 7982 (Pṛthāṃ), 7986.—[§ 262

(Bhagavadyāna): II, 2, 22 (P.).]—§ 275 (Rājasūyārambhap.):

II, 17, 676 (°yāḥ sutasya).—[§ 277 (Jarāsandhavadhap.):

II, 24, 976 (P.).]—[§ 292 (Rājasūyikap.): II, 45, 1616

(P.).]—§ 305 (Anudyūtap.): II, [78, 2564 (P.)]; 79, [2584

(P.)], 2586, [2593 (P.)], (2596), 2613, 2614.—§ 330 (Indra-

darśana): III, 37, 1479.—§ 337 (Indralokābhigamanap.):

III, 44, †1799.—§ 338 (do.): III, 46, 1854 (yathā), 1862

(do.), [1871 (P.)].—§ 339 (do.): III, 47, 1886.—§ 424

(Bhīmakadalīkhaṇḍapr.): III, 147, 11169 (°yā garbheṇa

dhāritaḥ, sc. Bhīmasena).—§ 432 (Saugandhikāharaṇa): III,

154, †11386 (Vātena K°yāṃ balavān sujātaḥ, sc. Bhīmasena).

—§ 452 (Mārkaṇḍeyas.): III, 183, 12583.—§ 510 (Draupadī-

Satyabhāmasaṃv.): III, 233, 14688, [14689 (P.)].—§ 522

(Draupadīharaṇap.): III, 270, †15713 (°yāḥ prāṇair

iṣṭatamaḥ, sc. Sahadeva).—§ 547 (Karṇa): III, [303, 17007

(P.), 17009 (P.), 17019 (P.), 17024 (P.), 17025 (P.); 304,

17039 (P.), 17046 (P.)]; 305, [17051 (P.), 17058 (P.)],

(17061), [17069 (P.)]; 306, 17079, (17081), †17094;

307, (17105), (17114), (17116), (17119), 17120, [17124

(Kuntirājātmajā)]; 308, [17126 (P.)], 17134, [17147 (P.),

17148 (P.)]; 309, [17167 (P.)], 17173 (Sūryasambhavaḥ

Karṇaḥ K°yāṃ) (Pṛthā (i.e. Kuntī), the daughter of Śūra,

was adopted by Kuntibhoja; she attended on a brahman, who

gave her a mantra by which she might summon whatever

god she liked. She summoned Sūrya (the Sun), who begot

Karṇa on her, the child she threw into the water).—§ 548

(Āraṇeyap.): III, 313, 17295, 17416, 17417.—§ 549

(Pāṇḍavapraveśap.): IV, 4, 134.—§ 551 (Kīcakavadhap.):

IV, 19, 581, 596; 20, 634.—§ 556 (Sañjayayānap.): V,

31, 931.—§ 562 (Bhagavadyānap.): V, 90, [3128 (P.),

3130 (P.), 3220 (P.)], 3230, (3231); [91, 3236 (P.)].—

§ 567 (do.): V, 132, (4463) (told Kṛṣṇa to urge Yudhi-

ṣṭhira to battle).—§ 568 (Vidulāputraśāsana): V, 133,

(4494); 136, (4637) (asked Kṛṣṇa to tell Yudhiṣṭhira

Vidulāputraśāsana).—§ 569 (do.): V, 137, (4644), 4645

(sent Kṛṣṇa with a message to the Pāṇḍavas); 138, 4676,

4677; 140, 4753; 141, 4758, 4775 (°yāḥ prathamajaṃ, i.e.

Karṇa); 144, [4885 (P.)], 4894, 4910, [4912 (P.)], [4914

(Kauravyapatnī Vārṣṇeyī)], 4915, 4916; 145, (4918);

146, [4930 (P.)], 4952, [4955 (P.)] (Kṛṣṇa told Karṇa

that he was the son of K., Kuntī disclosed to Karṇa that she is

his mother and solicited him to make peace with the Pāṇḍavas,

Karṇa promised to save the Pāṇḍavas except Arjuna).—§ 570

(Sainyaniryāṇap.): V, 154, 5219, 5239.—§ 583 (Bhīṣma-

vadhap.): VI, 79μ, 3453 (°yāḥ parikleśaṃ).—§ 588 (do.):

VI, 122, 5841 (avakīrṇas tv ahaṃ K°yā, says Karṇa).—

Page437-a+ 63

§ 599 (Jayadrathavadhap.): VII, 127, 5166; 131, 5364,

5377 (°yāḥ putrasya sadṛśaṃ nedaṃ); 132σσ, 5425 (saputrāṃ,

all. to § 213); 139, 5783 (°yā vacaḥ smaran, sc. Karṇa,

cf. § 569).—§ 600 (Ghaṭotkacavadhap.): VII, 167, 7481 (°yāḥ

smṛtvā vacāḥ, sc. Karṇa, cf. § 569).—§ 605 (Karṇap.): VIII,

24, 964 (smṛtvā K°yā vacaḥ, sc. Karṇa, cf. § 569).—§ 608

(do.): VIII, 49, 2352 (°vākyañ ca so 'smarat, sc. Karṇa,

cf. § 569); 68, [†3382 (Pṛthāyā garbhaṃ), †3389 (read Pṛthāṃ

with B.)], †3393 (a celestial voice came to K. at the birth of

Arjuna); [†3400 (garbhe…Pṛthāyāḥ)]; 69ννν, †3433;

70ρρρ, †3528; 87, 4488.—§ 613 (Gadāyuddhap.): IX,

33ε, 1903 (Pāṇḍoḥ K°yāś ca santatiḥ).—§ 618 (Jalapradā-

nikap.): XI, 10, 270, 272 (came to see the battle-field);

14, 374 (yathā); [15, 414 (P.), 415 (P.), 419 (P.)].—§ 620

(Śrāddhap.): XI, 27γ, 805 (disclosed to the Pāṇḍavas that

Karṇa was her son).—§ 621 (Rājadh.): XII, I, 18, 21

(gūḍhotpannaḥ sutaḥ K°yāḥ, i.e. Karṇa), 22, 24 (jyeṣṭha-

putraḥ K°yāḥ, sc. Karṇa), [26 (P.), 27 (P.), 31 (P.), 35 (P.),

36 (P.), 38 (P.)], 42 (Pṛthāyāḥ); 4, 139 (°yāś ca varadānena,

Karṇa was slain on account of the boon he had granted to

K., cf. § 569); 5, 146.—§ 635 (do.): XII, 37, 1384.—

[§ 637 (do.): XII, 40, 1446 (P.).]—§ 641 (do.): XII, 75,

2853 (na hy etām āśiṣaṃ Pāṇḍur na ca K°ī na tv ayācata),

2854.—[§ 777 (Svargārohaṇik. p.): XIII, 168, 7714 (P.).]

—[§ 781 (Aśvamedhikap.): XIV, 15α, 388 (P.).]—[§ 783

(Anugītāp.): XIV, 52γ, 1505 (P.), 1507 (P.).]—§ 785

(do.): XIV, 61, [1839 (P.)], 1844, [1846 (Vārṣṇeyī)],

1848 (consoled Uttarā); 62, [(1859 (P.); 63ζ, 1893 (P.)];

66ι, [1940 (P.)], 1949 (Bhojasutā, prevailed upon Kṛṣṇa to

revive Parikṣit), [1962 (P.)], 1964; 67ν, [1965 (P.), 1973

(P.)]; 69, 2010; 70ο, 2038; 71π, 2061; 87, 2602;

88ϕ, [2604 (P.)], 2607; 89, 2671, [2672 (P.)].—§ 787

(Āśramavāsap.): XV, 1, [8 (Kuntibhojasutā)], 11 (π), 23;

3β, 73, (δ), 111, 138; 5η, 174; 10ξ, 348; 11π, 373; 15τ,

436; 16, 447, 449 (450), 465, 466; 17, (474); 18, 495,

496, [497 (P.)], 503, 504, 509, 515 (followed Dhṛtarāṣṭra

and Gāndhārī to the forest); 19, [525 (Kuntibhojajā, P.)],

534; 20, 540.—§ 788 (do.): XV, 21α, 578 (Pṛthā), 580;

22, [596 (P.)], 602, 604, [606 (P.)], 608; 24, [643 (P.),

646 (P.)], 654; 25γ, 663; 27δ, 731; 28, 746.—§ 789

(Putradarśanap.): XV, 29, 766, (β), 778 (γ), 783, 801, 814,

817; 30, (819), 841; 31ζ, 844, [845 (P.)].—§ 791 (do.):

XV, 36, 983, 995, 998.—§ 792 (Nāradāgamanap.): XV,

37, [1017 (P.)], 1021, 1024, [1027 (P.)], 1039, [1041 (P.),

1045 (P.), 1054 (P.); 38, 1063 (P.), 1072 (P.); 39, 1090

(P.), 1095 (P.)] (K. was burnt in a forest fire).—§ 795

(Svargārohanap.): XVIII, 5, 144 (together with Pāṇḍu in

heaven).

[ID=6200]

— Index to the Names in the Mahabharata

Daughter of Shura, adopted by Kuntibhoja, and wife of Pandu, who gave birth to Yudhishthira and other sons by the favor of various gods.

कुन्ती (kuntī) [Printed book page 1-391]
Kuntī — daughter of Śūra and adopted by Kuntibhoja

as he was childless. Durvāsas taught her a mantra by

which she invoked the sun who returned after blessing her

with a child. Being an unmarried girl, she abandoned her

son in a box, and this was discovered by Adhiratha who
Page1-392+ 46

brought him up. This child was Karṇa;¹ queen of Pāṇḍu:

gave birth to Yudhiṣṭhira and four other sons by the favour

of gods — Dharma, Vāyu and Indra and the Aśvins; outlived

her husband for the sake of their welfare.² Seen by Akrūra:

Narrated to Vidura her troubles after Pāṇḍu's death.

Her affection and love for Kṛṣṇa; addressed him on

the difficulties encountered by the Pāṇḍavas. Kṛṣṇa

comforted her and explained how it was not possible for him

to go to Hāstināpura earlier.³ Her stotra of Kṛṣṇa;⁴ grieved

at his departure from Hāstināpura. Her thoughts on the

other world.⁵ Heard of Drupada's defeat by her sons.

Was met by Kṛtavarman at Hāstināpura. At the news of the

alleged burning of (Pāṇḍavas, etc.), Kuntī went to the Kurus

accompanied by Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, though the latter was

aware of the fact of their living.⁶ Heard the story of the

marriage of Kṛṣṇa from his wives and was lost in wonder.⁷

Left for Syamantapañcaka, and complained to Vasudeva of

his neglect of her sons. Vasudeva consoled her saying that

oppression from Kamsā had scattered them in different

directions.⁸ Joy at Kṛṣṇa's visit to Hāstināpura. Taking

leave of her Kṛṣṇa went to Dvārakā.⁹ (See Pṛthā) Regret-

ted with her sons the loss of Duryodhana and others.¹⁰
[Footnote: 1) Bhā. IX. 23. 13-14; 24. 31-36; Br. III. 71. 152-5; M. 46. 7.]

[Footnote: 2) Bhā. IX. 22. 27; M. 50. 48-50. Br. III. 1. 40. Vi. V. 12. 24.]

[Footnote: 3) Bhā. X.

58. 7. 10; X. 49. 1-15; I. 8. 3: 9. 13.]

[Footnote: 4) Ib. I. 8. 17-43.]

[Footnote: 5) Ib.

I. 10. 9; 13. 3; 15. 33; X. 82 24.]

[Footnote: 6) Ib. X. 52. [56 (V) 2], [5], 10;

57. 1.]

[Footnote: 7) Ib. X. 84. 1.]

[Footnote: 8) Ib. X. 82. 18-22; 84. 57 and 69 [3].]

[Footnote: 9) Ib.

X. 7 1. 39; 77. 7; 10. M. 103. 12.]
[ID=3148]

— The Purana Index

Kuntī, a plant or resin

2 definitions

the plant Boswellia thurifera

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

a fragrant resin

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Kuntī, a river

2 definitions

of a river

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

A river originating from the Pariyatra hill

— The Purana Index

Kuntī as a Rākṣasī

1 definition

name of a Rakshasi

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

Kuntī, wife of a Brāhman

1 definition

the wife of a Brahman

— Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)

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Definitions on this page come from 6 works: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary, Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), The Purana Index. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon.