Shloka 24
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
तथा गगनमूर्धा च वेगवान् केतुमांश्न॒ सः । स्वर्भानुरश्वो5श्चपतिर्वृषपर्वाजकस्तथा,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 |
tathā gaganamūrdhā ca vegavān ketumān saḥ |
svarbhānur aśvo 'śvapatiḥ vṛṣaparvā ajakas tathā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Likewise (among them were) Gaganamūrdhā; Vegavān; Ketumān; Svarbhānu; Aśva; Aśvapati; Vṛṣaparvan; and Ajaka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily serves a genealogical function: it records notable figures of the Dānava line. The implicit lesson is contextual—Mahābhārata often frames later ethical and cosmic struggles by first mapping lineages and the spread of power, showing that fame and strength can exist across opposing clans.
Vaiśampāyana continues enumerating prominent Dānavas (descendants of Danu). This verse lists several by name—Gaganamūrdhā, Vegavān, Ketumān, Svarbhānu, Aśva, Aśvapati, Vṛṣaparvan, and Ajaka—as part of a longer catalogue in the chapter.