Shloka 47
नियोगप्रसङ्गः — The Niyoga Episode: Births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura
स तु देवब्रतो नाम गाड़ेय इति चाभवत् | द्युनामा शान्तनो: पुत्र: शान्तनोरधिको गुणै:,उस बालकका नाम हुआ देवव्रत। कुछ लोग गांगेय भी कहते थे। द्यु- नामवाले वसु शान्तनुके पुत्र होकर गुणोंमें उनसे भी बढ़ गये
sa tu devabrato nāma gāṅgeya iti cābhavat | dyunāmā śāntanoḥ putraḥ śāntanor adhiko guṇaiḥ ||
Das Kind erhielt den Namen Devavrata und wurde auch als Gāṅgeya bekannt. Der Vasu namens Dyunāma, als Sohn Śāntanus geboren, übertraf selbst Śāntanu an edlen Tugenden.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal that true nobility is measured by guṇa (virtue and excellence), not merely by birth. A worthy heir is one who surpasses predecessors in character, suggesting that dharma in rulership depends on cultivated qualities.
Vaiśampāyana identifies Śāntanu’s son: he is named Devavrata and is also known as Gāṅgeya (son of the Gaṅgā). He is further linked with the Vasu Dyunāma, and is described as exceeding Śāntanu in virtues, foreshadowing his exceptional role in the Kuru dynasty.