Shloka 100
समन्तपञ्चक-आख्यानम् तथा अक्षौहिणी-प्रमाणनिर्णयः
Samantapañcaka Narrative and the Measure of an Akṣauhiṇī
विचित्रवीर्यस्य तथा राज्ये सम्प्रतिपादनम् । धर्मस्य नृषु सम्भूतिरणीमाण्डव्यशापजा,इसी पर्वमें वसुओंके तेजके अंशभूत भीष्मके जन्मकी कथा भी है। उनकी राज्यभोगसे निवृत्ति, आजीवन ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतमें स्थित रहनेकी प्रतिज्ञा, प्रतिज्ञापालन, चित्रांगदकी रक्षा और चित्रांगदकी मृत्यु हो जानेपर छोटे भाई विचित्रवीर्यकी रक्षा, उन्हें राज्य-समर्पण, अणीमाण्डव्यके शापसे भगवान् धर्मकी विदुरके रूपमें मनुष्योंमें उत्पत्ति, श्रीकृष्णद्वैपायनके वरदानके कारण धृतराष्ट्र एवं पाण्डुका जन्म और इसी प्रसंगमें पाण्डवोंकी उत्पत्ति-कथा भी है
vicitravīryasya tathā rājye sampratipādanam | dharmasya nṛṣu sambhūtir aṇīmāṇḍavyaśāpajā |
And also the account of how Vicitravīrya was duly installed in the kingship; and how Dharma, because of the curse of Aṇīmāṇḍavya, was born among human beings (as Vidura). In this same section are narrated: the birth of Bhīṣma, who was a portion of the Vasus’ splendor; his withdrawal from royal enjoyment; his vow to remain established in lifelong celibacy; his steadfast keeping of that vow; his protection of Citrāṅgada and, after Citrāṅgada’s death, his guardianship of the younger brother Vicitravīrya and the handing over of the kingdom to him; the births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu through the boon of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa); and, in that very context, the narrative of the origin of the Pāṇḍavas.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights dharma expressed as steadfast commitment to a righteous vow (Bhīṣma’s lifelong brahmacarya) and responsible guardianship of the kingdom. It also underscores moral causality: even divine beings (Dharma) enter human history under the force of a curse, showing that actions and judgments have consequences that shape social and political order.
This verse functions as a thematic summary of episodes in the same section: Bhīṣma’s birth and renunciation of royal pleasures, his terrible vow and its faithful observance, his protection of Citrāṅgada and then Vicitravīrya, Vicitravīrya’s installation on the throne, Dharma’s human birth as Vidura due to Aṇīmāṇḍavya’s curse, and the subsequent births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Pāṇḍu through Vyāsa—leading into the account of the Pāṇḍavas’ origin.