THE SILENT MATRIARCH: UNVEILING KUNTI'S SAGACITY AND FORTITUDE IN SHIVAJI SAWANT'S MRITYUNJAYA

Shivaji Sawant’s Mrityunjaya: The Death Conqueror remains a seminal work in Indian literature, renowned for dissecting the Mahabharata through the dramatic soliloquies of its protagonists. While the novel primarily deconstructs the tragic life of Karna, the narrative devotes significant space to Kunti, offering a poignant exploration of her psyche. This paper analyzes Kunti’s dramatic soliloquy, examining her transformation from the innocent Pritha to the burdened Queen Mother. It argues that Kunti is not merely a victim of circumstance, but a symbol of matriarchal sagacity and stoic endurance. By navigating the dichotomies of biological instinct versus social morality, and personal grief versus political duty, Kunti emerges as a complex figure who exercises agency within the rigid confines of a patriarchal order.