Shloka 22
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
तेषां प्रथमजो राजा विप्रचित्तिमहायशा: । शम्बरो नमुचिश्वैव पुलोमा चेति विश्रुत:,उनमें महायशस्वी राजा विप्रचित्ति सबसे बड़ा था। उसके बाद शम्बर, नमुचि, पुलोमा, असिलोमा, केशी, दुर्जय, अयःशिरा, अश्वशिरा, पराक्रमी अश्वशंकु, गगनमूर्धा, वेगवान्, केतुमान्, स्वर्भानु, अश्व, अश्वपति, वृषपर्वा, अजक, अभश्वग्रीव, सूक्ष्म, महाबली तुहुण्ड, इषुपाद, एकचक्र, विरूपाक्ष, हर, अहर, निचन्द्र, निकुम्भ, कुपट, कपट, शरभ, शलभ, सूर्य और चन्द्रमा हैं। ये दनुके वंशमें विख्यात दानव बताये गये हैं
teṣāṃ prathamajo rājā vipracittimahāyaśāḥ | śambaro namuciś caiva pulomā ceti viśrutaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Among them, the first-born and foremost king was the greatly renowned Vipracitti; and after him were famed Śambara, Namuci, and Pulomā. Thus is set forth the genealogical catalogue of the Dānava line, marking their rank and notoriety.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily serves a genealogical function: it establishes precedence and fame within the Dānava line by naming the foremost figures. Its implicit lesson is about how epic narrative frames cosmic history through lineage, rank, and reputation, which later contextualize conflicts tied to maintaining or disrupting order.
Vaiśampāyana is listing notable Dānavas (descendants in the Danu line). He identifies Vipracitti as the eldest/foremost king among them and then names other renowned figures—Śambara, Namuci, and Pulomā—as part of the continuing catalog.