Kunti

THE LIVING ARCHIVE

About Kunti

His ancestry passes through Haihaya, Shatajit and Sahasrajit to Yadu. His descendants are followed through Sahanji and Mahishmat toward the family of Kritavirya. The combination of his father and son distinguishes this king from other bearers of the name Kunti.

AT A GLANCE

Identity & Context

Identity: King
Form: Haihaya Dynasty
Tradition: Puranic Royal Genealogy

Family & Relationships

ParentDharmanetra
Dharmanetra is the parent of Kunti in this account.
ChildSahanji
Kunti is the parent of Sahanji in this account.

IN THE TRADITION

Recorded Context

Family and Wider Context

Another male Kunti occurs in the branch descended from Kratha and Vidarbha. That branch is followed through Kroshtu, whereas this Kunti belongs to Sahasrajit’s Haihaya family. The two kings therefore occupy different royal successions even before the much later appearance of Pritha/Kunti in the Pandava household.

ROLE & ESSENCE

Attributes & Significance

The celebrated warrior of this Haihaya branch is Kartavirya Arjuna, a later descendant of Kritavirya. His gifts from Dattatreya and his conflict with Parashurama belong to his own story. Kunti’s contribution to the genealogy is the connection between Dharmanetra and Sahanji, preserving the family’s intervening generations.

Role

Kunti is a male king in the Haihaya line, the son of Dharmanetra and the father of Sahanji. He belongs to an early branch of Yadu’s descendants and is distinct from Pritha, the Pandavas’ mother.

TRADITION & MEANING

Traditions & Interpretations

The Pandavas’ divine births and Pritha’s relationship with Kuntibhoja belong to another family. This king is the son of Dharmanetra and father of Sahanji, while the other male Kunti is Kratha’s son.