Shloka 32
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
क्रूरस्वभावं क्रूराया: पुत्रपौत्रमनन्तकम् | गण: क्रोधवशो नाम क्रूरकर्मारिमर्दन:,क्रूरा (क्रोधा)-के क्रूर स्वभाववाले असंख्य पुत्र-पौत्र उत्पन्न हुए। शत्रुओंका नाश करनेवाला क्रूरकर्मा क्रोधवश नामक गण भी क्रूराकी ही संतान हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca | krūrasvabhāvaṃ krūrāyāḥ putrapautram anantakam | gaṇaḥ krodhavaśo nāma krūrakarmārimardanaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: From Krūrā—herself of a cruel disposition—there arose an innumerable line of sons and grandsons, all sharing that harsh nature. Among her offspring was also the troop called Krodhavaśa, fierce in deed and renowned as destroyers of enemies.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an ethical causality: when cruelty and anger dominate one’s nature (svabhāva), they tend to reproduce socially and generationally—forming ‘hosts’ of harmful conduct. It implicitly warns that unchecked krodha becomes a governing force that shapes actions and communities.
Vaiśampāyana continues a genealogical-cosmological account, describing Krūrā’s progeny as innumerable and cruel by disposition, and naming among them a specific troop called Krodhavaśa, characterized as fierce actors and destroyers of enemies.