Kuntibhoja

Kuntibhoja was the king of the Kunti kingdom and the foster-father of Kuntī, whose birth name was Pṛthā. Kuntī was born the daughter of Śūra, a Yādava king and the father of Vasudeva. Śūra gave her in adoption to his childless cousin Kuntibhoja, to keep a promise. Kuntibhoja raised her with great love, and she was called Kuntī after him.

He is also remembered for sending Kuntī to serve the visiting ṛṣi Durvāsa. This led to Durvāsa giving her the mantra (sacred formula) by which she later called the devas and became the mother of three Pāṇḍavas.

Adoption of Kuntī

Kuntī was born as Pṛthā, daughter of Śūra of the Yādava clan. Śūra had promised his firstborn child to his childless cousin Kuntibhoja. When Pṛthā was born, he kept his promise and gave her in adoption. Kuntibhoja raised her as his own daughter with full parental love. For the rest of her life she was called Kuntī, “daughter of Kuntibhoja”, although her birth name was Pṛthā.

The Durvāsa connection

Kuntibhoja sent the young Kuntī to serve the ṛṣi Durvāsa during one of his visits. The ṛṣi was known to be hard to please. He was quick to anger and demanding, and serving him without giving offence was a real test. Kuntī served him perfectly through his whole stay. Durvāsa was pleased with her care and gave her the mantra that would matter so much. With it she could call any deva and conceive a divine son.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Sambhava Parva, Chapters 111–112