Shloka 16
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
एकादशस्तथा त्वष्टा द्वादशो विष्णुरुच्यते । जघन्यजस्तु सर्वेषामादित्यानां गुणाधिक:,धाता, मित्र, अर्यमा, इन्द्र, वरुण, अंश, भग, विवस्वान्, पूषा, दसवें सविता, ग्यारहवें त्वष्टा और बारहवें विष्णु कहे जाते हैं। इन सब आदित्योंमें विष्णु छोटे हैं; किंतु गुणोंमें वे सबसे बढ़कर हैं
ekādaśas tathā tvaṣṭā dvādaśo viṣṇur ucyate | jaghanyajas tu sarveṣām ādityānāṁ guṇādhikaḥ || dhātā mitro 'ryamā indro varuṇo 'ṁśo bhagaḥ vivasvān pūṣā savitā tvaṣṭā viṣṇuś ca ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Der elfte ist Tvaṣṭṛ, und der zwölfte wird Viṣṇu genannt. Obwohl Viṣṇu der Jüngste unter allen Ādityas ist, überragt er sie alle an Vorzüglichkeit der Eigenschaften. Die Ādityas sind: Dhātṛ, Mitra, Aryaman, Indra, Varuṇa, Aṁśa, Bhaga, Vivasvān, Pūṣan, Savitṛ, Tvaṣṭṛ und Viṣṇu.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rank or seniority is not the measure of greatness: although Viṣṇu is described as the youngest among the Ādityas, he is declared foremost in excellence of qualities (guṇa). The verse highlights virtue and merit as the true basis of eminence.
Vaiśampāyana is enumerating the twelve Ādityas and identifying their order, stating that Tvaṣṭṛ is the eleventh and Viṣṇu the twelfth, while emphasizing Viṣṇu’s superior qualities despite being last-born.