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The Teachings of Queen Kunti
The tragic and heroic figure of Queen Kunti emerges from an explosive era in the history of ancient India. As related in the Mahabharata, India's grand epic poem of 110,000 couplets, Kunti was the wife of King Pandu and the mother of five illustrious sons known as the Pandavas. As such, she was one of the central figures in a complex political drama that culminated fifty centuries ago in the Kuruksetra War, a devastating war of ascendancy that changed the course of world events. The Mahabharata describes the prelude to the holocaust as
Pandu became king because his elder brother Dhrtarastra had been born blind, a condition that excluded him from direct succession. Some time after Pandu ascended to the throne, Dhrtarastra married Gandhari and fathered one hundred sons. This was the ruling family of the Kaurava dynasty, of whom the eldest was the ambitious and cruel Duryodhana.
Meanwhile, Pandu had taken two wives, Madri and Kunti. Originally named Prtha, Kunti was the daughter of Surasena, the chief of the glorious Yadu dynasty. The Mahabharata relates that Kunti "was gifted with beauty and character; she rejoiced in the law [dharma] and was great in her vows." She also possessed an unusual benediction. When she was a child, her father Surasena had given her in adoption to his childless cousin and close friend Kuntibhoja (hence the name "Kunti"). In her stepfather's house, Kunti's duty was to look after the welfare of guests. One day the powerful sage and mystic Durvasa came there and was pleased by Kunti's selfless service. Foreseeing that she would have difficulty conceiving sons, Durvasa gave her the benediction that she could invoke any demigod and by him obtain progeny.
After Kunti married Pandu, he was placed under a curse that prevented him from begetting children. So he renounced the throne and retired with his wives to the forest. There Kunti's special benediction enabled her to conceive (at her husband's request) three glorious sons. First she invoked Dharma, the demigod of religion. After worshiping him and repeating an invocation Durvasa had taught her, she united with Dharma and, in time, gave birth to a boy. As soon as the child was born, a voice with no visible source said, "This child will be called Yudhisthira, and he will be very virtuous. He will be splendid, determined, renounced, and famous throughout the three worlds."
Having been blessed with this virtuous son, Pandu then asked Kunti for a son of great physical strength. Thus Kunti invoked Vayu, the demigod of the wind, who begot the mighty Bhima. Upon Bhima's birth the supernatural voice said, "This child will be the foremost of all strong men."
Thereafter Pandu consulted with great sages in the forest and then asked Kunti to observe vows of austerity for one full year. At the end of this period Pandu said to Kunti, "O beautiful one, Indra, the King of heaven, is pleased with you, so invoke him and conceive a son." Kunti then invoked Indra, who came to her and begot Arjuna. As soon as the prince was born, the same celestial voice boomed through the "O Kunti, this child will be as strong as Kartavirya and Sibi [two powerful kings of Vedic times] and as invincible in battle as Indra himself. He will spread your fame everywhere and acquire many divine weapons." Subsequently, Pandu's junior wife Madri bore two sons named Nakula and Sahadeva. These five sons of Pandu (Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva) then came to be known as the Pandavas.
Pandu became king because his elder brother Dhrtarastra had been born blind, a condition that excluded him from direct succession. Some time after Pandu ascended to the throne, Dhrtarastra married Gandhari and fathered one hundred sons. This was the ruling family of the Kaurava dynasty, of whom the eldest was the ambitious and cruel Duryodhana.
Meanwhile, Pandu had taken two wives, Madri and Kunti. Originally named Prtha, Kunti was the daughter of Surasena, the chief of the glorious Yadu dynasty. The Mahabharata relates that Kunti "was gifted with beauty and character; she rejoiced in the law [dharma] and was great in her vows." She also possessed an unusual benediction. When she was a child, her father Surasena had given her in adoption to his childless cousin and close friend Kuntibhoja (hence the name "Kunti"). In her stepfather's house, Kunti's duty was to look after the welfare of guests. One day the powerful sage and mystic Durvasa came there and was pleased by Kunti's selfless service. Foreseeing that she would have difficulty conceiving sons, Durvasa gave her the benediction that she could invoke any demigod and by him obtain progeny.
After Kunti married Pandu, he was placed under a curse that prevented him from begetting children. So he renounced the throne and retired with his wives to the forest. There Kunti's special benediction enabled her to conceive (at her husband's request) three glorious sons. First she invoked Dharma, the demigod of religion. After worshiping him and repeating an invocation Durvasa had taught her, she united with Dharma and, in time, gave birth to a boy. As soon as the child was born, a voice with no visible source said, "This child will be called Yudhisthira, and he will be very virtuous. He will be splendid, determined, renounced, and famous throughout the three worlds."
Having been blessed with this virtuous son, Pandu then asked Kunti for a son of great physical strength. Thus Kunti invoked Vayu, the demigod of the wind, who begot the mighty Bhima. Upon Bhima's birth the supernatural voice said, "This child will be the foremost of all strong men."
Thereafter Pandu consulted with great sages in the forest and then asked Kunti to observe vows of austerity for one full year. At the end of this period Pandu said to Kunti, "O beautiful one, Indra, the King of heaven, is pleased with you, so invoke him and conceive a son." Kunti then invoked Indra, who came to her and begot Arjuna. As soon as the prince was born, the same celestial voice boomed through the "O Kunti, this child will be as strong as Kartavirya and Sibi [two powerful kings of Vedic times] and as invincible in battle as Indra himself. He will spread your fame everywhere and acquire many divine weapons." Subsequently, Pandu's junior wife Madri bore two sons named Nakula and Sahadeva. These five sons of Pandu (Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva) then came to be known as the Pandavas.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
60 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Bhaktivedanta
813 books716 followersHis Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (अभय चरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद)was born as Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta, India.
He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.
At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 6, 2009
Quotes:
By our karma, or activities, we are fit to take birth in a good family in human society or demigod society, we shall do so, but if our activities are low like those of animals, we shall have to take birth in a family of animals. That is the force of karma. Karmana daiva-netrena jantor deho papattaye (SB. 3.31.1). We develop a certain type of body according to our karma.
"One should be more tolerant than the tree and humbler than the grass."
Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa. It is not necessary to understand Krsna and how He creates. Krsna explains himself in Bhagavad-gita, and we should not try to understand much more. We should not bother very much to know Krsna. That is not possible. We should simply increase our unalloyed love for Krsna. That is the perfection of life.
~His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
By our karma, or activities, we are fit to take birth in a good family in human society or demigod society, we shall do so, but if our activities are low like those of animals, we shall have to take birth in a family of animals. That is the force of karma. Karmana daiva-netrena jantor deho papattaye (SB. 3.31.1). We develop a certain type of body according to our karma.
"One should be more tolerant than the tree and humbler than the grass."
Maya is always ready. We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa. It is not necessary to understand Krsna and how He creates. Krsna explains himself in Bhagavad-gita, and we should not try to understand much more. We should not bother very much to know Krsna. That is not possible. We should simply increase our unalloyed love for Krsna. That is the perfection of life.
~His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
June 18, 2020
Kunti Maharani always prayed to Krishna that "My dear Lord - Please give me miseries, so that I can always remember you".
It is the human tendency that whenever we have any problem, we remember God and ask him to help us but when we achieve something, we think we have done that solely and don't credit the lord for it. So, we should understand the point that there is a controller who is controlling everything in this universe.
So, we should always try to remember and thank him for what he has given us and where we are today in life irrespective of the conditions and continue to do whatever we are doing in life but keeping him in mind every moment and he will take care of the rest.
So, always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna. Then, your life will be successful.
It is the human tendency that whenever we have any problem, we remember God and ask him to help us but when we achieve something, we think we have done that solely and don't credit the lord for it. So, we should understand the point that there is a controller who is controlling everything in this universe.
So, we should always try to remember and thank him for what he has given us and where we are today in life irrespective of the conditions and continue to do whatever we are doing in life but keeping him in mind every moment and he will take care of the rest.
So, always remember Krishna and never forget Krishna. Then, your life will be successful.
January 17, 2018
Enthralled by the humble prayers of Queen Kunti and the philosophical purports of HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada!
November 30, 2018
This is my 8th book of Same Author. Author had described the complicated vedic injunctions very Lucidly. This book will helps to clear our vision towards life.
April 4, 2020
Amazing book. To know about realisation.
June 18, 2020
Amazing book, Must Read for everyone (especially for the really Intelligent person) because it's Full of Wisdom, whenever I read any part (excerpt) or quote from this book I become amazed and also pacified. I feel satisfaction .
I have found the Best Quotes in The Teachings of Queen Kunti . The Prayers of Queen Kunti are Full of Wisdom and are Learning Lessons for All of us. Deep Philosophical Teachings are in the Prayers of Queen Kunti. She was an Highly Intelligent women.
She had so much Humility and Tolerance , that she even prayed to Lord Krishna to give her Sufferings so that she can Always Remember Lord Krishna and Never Forget Lord Krishna because by Remembering Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna Only one can cross over or Transcend this Vicious Cycle of Birth and Death ( also Old age and Diseases)
So much to Learn from The Teachings of Queen Kunti for all of us .
I have found the Best Quotes in The Teachings of Queen Kunti . The Prayers of Queen Kunti are Full of Wisdom and are Learning Lessons for All of us. Deep Philosophical Teachings are in the Prayers of Queen Kunti. She was an Highly Intelligent women.
She had so much Humility and Tolerance , that she even prayed to Lord Krishna to give her Sufferings so that she can Always Remember Lord Krishna and Never Forget Lord Krishna because by Remembering Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna Only one can cross over or Transcend this Vicious Cycle of Birth and Death ( also Old age and Diseases)
So much to Learn from The Teachings of Queen Kunti for all of us .
December 12, 2024
"কৃষ্ণ-সূর্যসম; মায়া হয় অন্ধকার। যাঁহা কৃষ্ণ, তাঁহা নাহি মায়ার অধিকার ।"
ভারতবর্ষের এক মহান দার্শনিক ও আধ্যাত্মিক ধ্রুপদী শ্রীমদ্ভাগবতে রাণী কুম্ভীর প্রার্থনা লিপিবদ্ধ করা হয়েছে, এবং তা অবিস্মরণীয়, যা হচ্ছে ভক্তিমতি এক মহান নারীর হৃদয়ের আর্তির সরল ও উজ্জ্বল অভিব্যক্তি। সেগুলি একদিকে যেমন হৃদয়ের অন্তঃস্থল থেকে উৎসারিত দিব্য ভাবসমূহের বাহ্যিক প্রকাশ ঘটায়, তেমনই গভীর বোধসম্পন্ন চিন্তাশীল জগতকে দার্শনিক ও তাত্ত্বিকভাকে আলোড়িত করে।
তাঁর উচ্চারিত শব্দাবলী হাজার হাজার বছর ধরে ভারতবর্ষের ঋষি ও দার্শনিকদের কণ্ঠে আবৃত, কীর্তিত ও গীত হয়েছে।
শ্রবণং কীর্তনং বিষ্ণোঃ স্মরণং পাদসেবনম্।
অর্চনং বন্দনং দাস্যং সখ্যমাত্মনিবেদনম্ ।।
ইতি পুংসার্পিতা বিষ্ণৌ ভক্তিশ্চেন্নবলক্ষণা।
ক্রিয়েত ভগবত্যদ্ধা তন্মন্যেহধীতমুত্তমম্ ।।
ভারতবর্ষের এক মহান দার্শনিক ও আধ্যাত্মিক ধ্রুপদী শ্রীমদ্ভাগবতে রাণী কুম্ভীর প্রার্থনা লিপিবদ্ধ করা হয়েছে, এবং তা অবিস্মরণীয়, যা হচ্ছে ভক্তিমতি এক মহান নারীর হৃদয়ের আর্তির সরল ও উজ্জ্বল অভিব্যক্তি। সেগুলি একদিকে যেমন হৃদয়ের অন্তঃস্থল থেকে উৎসারিত দিব্য ভাবসমূহের বাহ্যিক প্রকাশ ঘটায়, তেমনই গভীর বোধসম্পন্ন চিন্তাশীল জগতকে দার্শনিক ও তাত্ত্বিকভাকে আলোড়িত করে।
তাঁর উচ্চারিত শব্দাবলী হাজার হাজার বছর ধরে ভারতবর্ষের ঋষি ও দার্শনিকদের কণ্ঠে আবৃত, কীর্তিত ও গীত হয়েছে।
শ্রবণং কীর্তনং বিষ্ণোঃ স্মরণং পাদসেবনম্।
অর্চনং বন্দনং দাস্যং সখ্যমাত্মনিবেদনম্ ।।
ইতি পুংসার্পিতা বিষ্ণৌ ভক্তিশ্চেন্নবলক্ষণা।
ক্রিয়েত ভগবত্যদ্ধা তন্মন্যেহধীতমুত্তমম্ ।।
June 25, 2023
Very unconventional yet thrilling take on problems in life. The prayers of Queen kunti can instill courage in oneself and the lord, and can make us more resilient and indifferent to problems in life.Excellent book, overall.🤍
December 25, 2022
Wow! What a wonderful book.... Will surely increase your love for Lord Krishna.....
January 11, 2023
My favourite book in the whole wide world.
February 22, 2023
Sometimes the patriarchal mindset of Prabhupada is a turnoff...
September 8, 2023
💀 przeczytałam to tylko dlatego, że przypadkowo kupiłam to kiedyś za 5 zł od jakiejś typiary z hare kryszna, nigdy więcej
May 2, 2013
Książka mnie znużyła, już chyba za dużo literatury na ten temat. Są piękne fragmenty i takie mniej piękne gdzie innowiercy to właściwie są "dranie", więc nie chce mi się specjalnie nad nią rozwodzić.
Jednakże dobre fragmenty są wszędzie:
(s. 202)
"(...) lecz ja jestem duszą, nie ciałem. Na tym polega istota zrozumienia. Skoro nie jestem ciałem, to czyim mógłbym być ojcem albo czyją matką? Najwyższym ojcem i najwyższą matką jest Krsna. My jedynie gramy - niczym na scenie - role ojca, matki, siostry albo brata."
- znów to porównanie do takiej czy innej gry...
Jednakże dobre fragmenty są wszędzie:
(s. 202)
"(...) lecz ja jestem duszą, nie ciałem. Na tym polega istota zrozumienia. Skoro nie jestem ciałem, to czyim mógłbym być ojcem albo czyją matką? Najwyższym ojcem i najwyższą matką jest Krsna. My jedynie gramy - niczym na scenie - role ojca, matki, siostry albo brata."
- znów to porównanie do takiej czy innej gry...
April 19, 2025
Stumbled upon this in a charity shop and since I practice shaktism I had to read this book.
As a priestess I follow the goddess path and enjoy learning from the wisdom of goddesses, lady saints, queens and wise women from antiquity.
Teachings of Srimati Kunti is the epitome of bhakti (bhakti being sanskrit for love & devotion) which is something I practice at home in prayer, puja, mantra and kirtan.
As a priestess I follow the goddess path and enjoy learning from the wisdom of goddesses, lady saints, queens and wise women from antiquity.
Teachings of Srimati Kunti is the epitome of bhakti (bhakti being sanskrit for love & devotion) which is something I practice at home in prayer, puja, mantra and kirtan.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews