Shloka 48
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
मगधेषु जयत्सेनस्तेषामासीत् स पार्थिव: । अष्टानां प्रवरस्तेषां कालेयानां महासुरः,उन आठों कालेयोंमें श्रेष्ठ जो महान् असुर था, वही मगध देशमें जयत्सेन नामक राजा हुआ
magadheṣu jayatsenas teṣām āsīt sa pārthivaḥ | aṣṭānāṁ pravaras teṣāṁ kāleyānāṁ mahāsuraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Unter den Magadhas erhob sich ein König namens Jayatsena. Er war eben jener mächtige Asura — der Vornehmste unter den acht Kāleyas — der schließlich das Land Magadha beherrschte.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily serves a genealogical purpose, but it also implies an ethical lens: mere might, extraordinary origin, or fearsome lineage (even Asura descent) does not define true kingship. In the epic worldview, a ruler’s legitimacy is ultimately tested by adherence to dharma rather than by power alone.
Vaiśampāyana identifies a Magadhan king named Jayatsena and explains his origin: he is the same mighty Asura who was the foremost among the eight Kāleyas, now appearing in human royal history as the king of Magadha.