Shloka 6
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
दानवा राक्षसाश्रैव गन्धर्वा: पन्नगास्तथा । न तान् बलस्थान् बाल्ये5पि जघ्नुर्भरतसत्तम,वे दानव, राक्षस, दुष्ट गन्धर्व, सर्प तथा अन्यान्य मनुष्यभक्षी जीवोंका बारम्बार संहार करने लगे। भरतश्रेष्ठ) वे बचपनमें भी इतने बलवान् थे कि दानव, राक्षस, गन्धर्व तथा सर्प उनका बाल बाँका तक नहीं कर पाते थे
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
dānavā rākṣasāś caiva gandharvāḥ pannagās tathā |
na tān balasthān bālye 'pi jaghnur bharatasattama ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “Even the Dānavas, the Rākṣasas, the Gandharvas, and the serpentine beings could not strike down those mighty ones—not even in their childhood, O best of the Bharatas.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that extraordinary strength and protection can manifest early when one is aligned with rightful order; forces associated with disruption and predation (demonic and hostile beings) are unable to harm the truly mighty, implying a moral universe where adharma is checked by dharmically grounded power.
Vaiśaṃpāyana describes how various powerful non-human beings—Dānavas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, and serpents—were unable to kill or even overcome the strong figures being discussed, emphasizing their invincibility even during childhood.