Kunti-Bhoja

Kunti-Bhoja

In Hindu mythology, Kunti-Bhoja (or Kuntibhoja) was the adoptive father and cousin of Queen Kunti.^[1] He was the ruler of the Kunti Kingdom.

Kunti was a daughter of King Shurasena, but was later given to Kuntibhoja since he was devoid of children.^[2] Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter and loved her.^[3] She was very beautiful and intelligent and later married Pandu.^[4]

When Kunti was a young girl, the sage Durvasa visited Kuntibhoja one day, and sought his hospitality. The king entrusted the sage to Kunti’s care and tasked Kunti with the responsibility of serving the sage and meeting all his needs during his stay with them.^[5] Eventually, the sage was gratified. Before departing, he rewarded Kunti by teaching her Atharvaveda mantras which enabled her to invoke any god of her choice to beget children by them.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Kuntibhoja took part in the Kurukshetra War, siding with the Pandavas. He perished in the war, falling to Dronacharya.

Sources

1. Mahabharata
2. KUNTI (also called Pritha and Parshni)
3. First Book Adi Parva Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and Kisari Mohan Ganguli by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa. Page 272.
4. "The large-eyed daughter of Kuntibhoja, Pritha [Kunti] by name, was endued with beauty and every accomplishment."
5. "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCI".
6. "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXI".
7. "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Adi Parva, Section CXXII".
8. "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Vana Parva, Section CCCIII".
9. "The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Asramavasika Parva, Section XXX".
10. "Karna's Father Found - by Indrajit Bandyopadhyay".