Shloka 4

Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)

Devanagari script

ततो ब्रद्मर्षिवंशेषु पार्थिवर्षिकुलेषु च । जज्ञिरे राजशार्दूल यथाकामं दिवौकस:,नृपश्रेष्ठ) वे देवगण अपनी इच्छाके अनुसार ब्रह्मर्षियों अथवा राजर्षियोंके वंशमें उत्पन्न हुए

Transliteration

tato brahmarṣivaṃśeṣu pārthivarṣikuleṣu ca | jajñire rājaśārdūla yathākāmaṃ divaukasaḥ ||

Translation

Dann, o Tiger unter den Königen, wurden die Himmelsbewohner—nach ihrem eigenen Wunsch—in den Geschlechtern der brahmanischen Rishis und in den Häusern der königlichen Weisen der Erde geboren.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• ब्रह्मर्षि-वंशेषु: in the lineages of Brahmarishis
• ब्रह्मर्षि-वंशेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) / ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• पार्थिव-ऋषि-कुलेषु: in the families of royal sages (Rajarsis)
• पार्थिव-ऋषि-कुलेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक) / पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक) / ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• जज्ञिरे: were born, came into being
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd person, Plural, Parasmaipada

• राज-शार्दूल: O tiger among kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक) / राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यथा-कामम्: according to इच्छा; as desired
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) / यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya

• दिवौकसः: the gods, dwellers in heaven
• दिवौकसः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवौकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशमग्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• divaukasaḥ (celestial beings/gods)
• brahmarṣis (Brahmin seers)
• rājarṣis (royal sages)
• rājaśārdūla (addressed king)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents birth as not merely biological but also purposive: higher beings may assume human birth in saintly or royal lineages, implying a moral-cosmic design in which embodiment supports dharma and the unfolding of a larger narrative order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana states that celestial beings took birth on earth, entering the families of great Brahmin seers and royal-sage dynasties, doing so in accordance with their own chosen intent.