Shloka 231
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
रुद्रस्यानुचर: श्रीमान् महाकालेति यं विदु: । चतुस्त्रिंशद् दनो: पुत्रा: ख्याता: सर्वत्र भारत
rudrasyānucaraḥ śrīmān mahākāleti yaṃ viduḥ | catustriṃśad danoḥ putrāḥ khyātāḥ sarvatra bhārata ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: ثمّة تابعٌ بهيٌّ لرودرا يعرفه الناس باسم «مهاكالا»؛ كما أن أبناء دانو الأربعة والثلاثين مشهورون في كل مكان، يا بهاراتا.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how identities and lineages become widely established through tradition: Mahākāla is recognized as Rudra’s attendant, and Danu’s sons are remembered as a famed group. It reflects the epic’s emphasis on preserving genealogical memory that frames later ethical and political conflicts.
Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a genealogical/cataloguing passage in which notable beings and their affiliations are listed—here identifying Mahākāla as connected to Rudra and noting the celebrated number of Danu’s sons (the Dānavas).