Kunti’s was an endless journey of strife, disappointments and righteous indignation. People who meant the most to her, died in her presence. She lost her parents and husband, with whom she should have seen many more meaningful years.

She bore all these with a smile. She could not call her son, her own and had to see her own two sons fighting to the point of death. It was the most painful event firstly because she was unable to reveal to Arjuna that Karna was his brother and secondly to see her own son Karna dying a warriors death on the field.

She fought her battles well in her personal life, as a great woman, and battles, as a queen. She was a angelic daughter, treasured wife, and saintly selfless mother. Her patience was her key strength and that was tested to the maximum.

Although Gandhari and Dhritarashtra, treated her with scant regard, she tolerated them and even forgave them which is a divine quality.

She protected Stri dharma. If karna and pandavas were not born, there would have been no Mahabharata and no annihilation of wicked people to ensure peace and prosperity for the virtuous.. Here are some interesting facts about the mother of the Pandavas:

Originally called Pritha, she was born to Shurasena and later adopted by the childless Kuntibhoja Raja. He later named her as Kunti as he considered her as his own and as his lucky mascot.

It was not only Arjuna who was considered as Partha. The first three sons of Pritha, that is kunti were called Parthas.

Kunti was , by relationship, an aunt for both Krishna and Balarama as she was the sister of Krishnas father Vasudeva.

Sage Durvasa, impressed by the hospitality she extended to him, during one of his visits to Kuntibhojas palace, granted her a boon, to have a child by reciting a mantra, from Gods.

Out of curiosity she tried one of the mantras and got a child immediately from Sun whom she had invoked through a mantra. She also abandoned the child due to fear of losing her reputation in society.

Later, when she married Pandu, who by a quirk of fate got cursed to be childless. She used the boon from Durvasa to beget the first three pandavas and then taught this mantra to Madri for her also to have kids. Madri used it twice and got two kids, Nakula and Sahadeva.

Kunti was on the verge of immolating herself on her husband’s pyre but Madri offered to do this herself as she was very confident that Kunti would show no discrimination in looking after Madris children as well.
She took pity on Hidimba, who was eager to marry Bhima, and then allowed her to marry Bhima.

It was due to her heedless action that resulted in all five Pandavas marrying Draupadi. Kunti unable to withstand the challenging life at forest during Pandavas exile, stayed back at Vidura’s home. She met them back when they came to see her after conquering hastinapura.

She had an immeasurable love towards Madris son Sahadeva. She adviced Draupadi to take good care of Sahadeva during their exile.She recognized Karna on the battle front after noticing the armour and earrings he was born with. When she saw the two brothers fighting with each other, she lost her consciousness there on the spot.

Karna promised her that she would not kill the pandavas but either Arjuna or Karna will survive the battle.
After pandavas settled well in their newfound roles as kings, her great grandson Parikshit had grown up with abilities to shoulder the kingdom. So Kunti along with Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Vidura and Sanjaya left to the forests to spend her remaining days in spiritual contemplation.

There was an accidental forest fire in which she lost her life ultimately. She was the one, who, when asked by Krishna to ask for any boon, replied that she wanted only trobules in life so that they would be occasions for her to remember God.

She was a single mom to her five children all the way. Without moral and social support, she brought them up and raised them to be great warriors, who were epitome of virtues and values. More importantly they grew up to be close devotees of Krishna.

Her children were living examples for the maxim Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha. They protected Dharma all their life and finally Dharma protected them.