Shloka 16
Svargārohaṇa-parva, Adhyāya 4 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Vision of the Celestial Assembly
Recognition and Explanation
अयं ते पूर्वजो भ्राता कौन्तेय: पावकद्युति: । सूतपुत्राग्रज: श्रेष्ठो राधेय इति विश्रुत:
ayaṁ te pūrvajo bhrātā kaunteyaḥ pāvakadyutiḥ | sūtaputrāgrajaḥ śreṣṭho rādheya iti viśrutaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: «Dies ist dein älterer Bruder, o Sohn der Kuntī, strahlend wie Feuer. Er ist als Rādheya berühmt, der Vorzüglichste unter den Söhnen eines Wagenlenkers und der Älteste von ihnen.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how social identity and reputation (“sūtaputra”, “Rādheya”) can obscure deeper truth of birth and kinship (“your elder brother”). It invites reflection on dharma beyond labels—recognizing persons by intrinsic worth and rightful relations rather than public status.
In the Svargārohaṇa context, Vaiśampāyana identifies a radiant figure as the listener’s elder brother and names him as Rādheya—i.e., Karṇa—renowned as the foremost among the sūta’s sons. The line functions as a recognition statement, clarifying kinship and Karṇa’s famed identity.