Shloka 13
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
कद्रश्न मनुजव्यात्र दक्षकन्यैव भारत । एतासां वीर्यसम्पन्नं पुत्रपौत्रमनन््तकम्,नरश्रेष्ठ! उनके नाम इस प्रकार हैं--अदिति, दिति, दनु, काला, दनायु, सिंहिका, क्रोधा (क्रूरा), प्राधा, विश्वा, विनता, कपिला, मुनि और कट्रू। भारत! ये सभी दक्षकी कन्याएँ हैं। इनके बल-पराक्रमसम्पन्न पुत्र-पौत्रोंकी संख्या अनन्त है
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca: Kadruś ca manuja-vyāghra Dakṣa-kanyā eva Bhārata; etāsāṃ vīrya-sampannaṃ putra-pautram anantakam.
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Tiger unter den Menschen, o Bhārata, auch Kadru ist wahrlich eine Tochter Dakṣas. Aus diesen Töchtern ging eine endlose Reihe von Söhnen und Enkeln hervor, reich an Kraft und Tapferkeit.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s emphasis on lineage and causality: vast historical and cosmic events arise from ancestral origins, and understanding descent-lines helps explain later conflicts and duties (dharma) tied to family and community.
Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a genealogical account for King Janamejaya, stating that Kadru is among Dakṣa’s daughters and that from these daughters came innumerable powerful descendants—setting the background for later narratives involving their progeny (notably the Nāgas).