Shloka 29
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
एकाक्षो मृतपा वीर: प्रलम्बनरकावपि । वातापी शत्रुतपन: शठश्वैव महासुर:,एकाक्ष, वीर मृतपा, प्रलम्ब, नरक, वातापी, शत्रुतपन, महान् असुर शठ, गविष्ठ, वनायु तथा दानव दीर्घजिह्न। भारत! इन सबके पुत्र-पौत्र असंख्य बताये गये हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ekākṣo mṛtapaḥ vīraḥ pralambanarako 'pi |
vātāpī śatrutapanaḥ śaṭhaś caiva mahāsuraḥ |
gaviṣṭho vanāyuś ca tathā dānava dīrghajihnaḥ ||
قال فايشَمبايانا: «وكان أيضًا البطل إكاآكشا، ومِرتَپا، وكذلك پرَلَمبا ونَرَكا؛ وفاتاپي، وشَترُتَپَنا، والعفريت العظيم (الأَسورا) شَطَه؛ وكذلك گاڤِشْطَه، وڤَنَايُو، والدانَفَة ديرغَجِهْنَه. يا بهاراتا، إن أبناءهم وأحفادهم يُذكَر أنهم لا يُحصَون.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic idea that destructive tendencies (asuric/adharmic forces) can expand rapidly through lineage and alliance; the narrative emphasis on “innumerable descendants” conveys the scale of the challenge that dharma must eventually confront.
Vaiśampāyana continues a genealogical listing of powerful asuras/dānavas and notes that their progeny were countless, broadening the background population of formidable beings within the Mahābhārata’s mythic history.