Shloka 18
अध्याय ९५: चित्राङ्गदस्य गन्धर्वेण सह संग्रामः तथा विचित्रवीर्यस्य राज्याभिषेकः
Chitrāṅgada’s duel with the Gandharva and Vicitravīrya’s consecration
दुष्यन्तं शूरभीमौ च प्रवसुं वसुमेव च । तेषां श्रेष्ठो5भवद् राजा दुष्यन्तो जनमेजय,(उनके नाम ये हैं--) दुष्यन्त, शूर, भीम, प्रवसु तथा वसु। जनमेजय! इनमें सबसे बड़े होनेके कारण दुष्यन्त राजा हुए
duṣyantaṃ śūra-bhīmau ca pravasuṃ vasum eva ca | teṣāṃ śreṣṭho 'bhavad rājā duṣyanto janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Ihre Namen waren Duṣyanta, Śūra, Bhīma, Pravasu und Vasu. O Janamejaya, unter ihnen wurde Duṣyanta König, da er der Erste war—der Älteste und der Hervorragendste.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores a common epic principle of royal order: among multiple heirs, the one regarded as śreṣṭha—foremost by seniority and recognized merit—assumes kingship, reflecting ideals of legitimate succession and stable governance.
Vaiśampāyana lists five brothers by name and then states that Duṣyanta became king among them because he was considered the foremost; the statement is addressed directly to King Janamejaya within the frame narrative.