Shloka 23
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
असिलोमा च केशी च दुर्जयश्वैव दानव: । अयःशिरा अश्वशिरा अश्वशंकुश्न वीर्यवान्,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
vaiśampāyana uvāca | asilomā ca keśī ca durjayaś caiva dānavaḥ | ayaḥśirā aśvaśirā aśvaśaṅkuś ca vīryavān |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Among the Dānava demons were Asilomā and Keśī, and also the Dānava named Durjaya; likewise Ayaḥśirā (‘Iron-head’), Aśvaśirā (‘Horse-head’), and the mighty Aśvaśaṅku.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse participates in a catalogue of powerful Dānavas, reminding the reader that sheer strength and fame are ethically neutral; in the Mahābhārata’s worldview, power not aligned with dharma can become a destabilizing force and a cause of suffering for beings.
Vaiśampāyana is listing notable Dānavas (demons of Danu’s line). This is part of the Adi Parva’s broader genealogical narration that maps the major lineages and figures who will later intersect with the epic’s conflicts.