Shloka 1
Ādi Parva 117 — Pāṇḍu’s Obsequies, Escort of the Pāṇḍavas, and Reception at Nāgasāhvaya
Hastināpura
ऑपनआक्रा छा अर: 2 षोडशाधिकशततमोड< ध्याय: धृतराष्ट्रके सौ पुत्रोंकी नामावली जनमेजय उवाच ज्येष्ठानुज्येष्ठतां तेषां नामानि च पृथक् पृथक् । धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राणामानुपूर्व्यात् प्रकीर्तय,जनमेजयने पूछा--ब्रह्मन! धृतराष्ट्रके पुत्रोंमें सबसे ज्येष्ठ कौन था? फिर उससे छोटा और उससे भी छोटा कौन था? उन सबके अलग-अलग नाम क्या थे? इन सब बातोंका क्रमश: वर्णन कीजिये
janamejaya uvāca | jyeṣṭhānujyeṣṭhatāṁ teṣāṁ nāmāni ca pṛthak pṛthak | dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putrāṇām ānupūrvyāt prakīrtaya ||
Janamejaya said: “O revered one, tell me in due order the names of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons—each separately—and also who among them was the eldest, who was next, and so on in seniority.”
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse models disciplined inquiry and orderly narration: understanding a conflict’s ethical and political background begins with clarity about lineage, seniority, and identity—facts that shape claims to authority and responsibility.
King Janamejaya requests the narrator to enumerate, in correct sequence, the individual names of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s sons and to specify their order of seniority (eldest to youngest).