Mahabharata 7.63.6 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 63, Shloka 6
Droṇa’s Cakra-Śakaṭa Vyūha and the Protection of Jayadratha (द्रोणकृतः चक्रशकटव्यूहः)
यज्ञैर्ननाविधैरिष्टवा प्रजामुत्पाद्य चोत्तमाम् । देवयान्यां चौशनस्यां शर्मिष्ठायां च धर्मत:
yajñair nānāvidhair iṣṭvā prajām utpādya cottamām | devayānyāṃ cauśanasyāṃ śarmiṣṭhāyāṃ ca dharmataḥ ||
Nārada sprach: „Nachdem er durch vielerlei Opfer Verehrung dargebracht und nach dem Dharma vortreffliche Nachkommenschaft gezeugt hatte, zeugte er Kinder mit Devayānī—der Tochter Śukras—und auch mit Śarmiṣṭhā, in Übereinstimmung mit dem Dharma. Durch diese rituelle Hingabe und rechtschaffene Selbstzucht wird er als ein König geschildert, der Ordnung und Gedeihen sowohl durch heilige Riten als auch durch moralische Zügelung erhält.“
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links righteous kingship to two complementary duties: sustaining sacred order through yajña (ritual responsibility) and sustaining lineage/society through dharmic conduct in family life. ‘Dharmataḥ’ emphasizes legitimacy and ethical restraint rather than mere power or desire.
Nārada describes a ruler (implied from the wider Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā cycle) who performs many sacrifices and then begets excellent children with Devayānī (Śukra’s daughter) and with Śarmiṣṭhā, presenting these events as occurring in accordance with dharma.
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