Shloka 70

आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः

Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition

Devanagari script

धन्विनां नृपशार्दूल यः सर्वस्त्रिविदुत्तम: । महाकीर्तिमिहातेजा: स जज्ञे मनुजेश्वर,नृपश्रेष्ठ राजा जनमेजय! आचार्य द्रोण समस्त धनुर्धर वीरोंमें उत्तम और सम्पूर्ण अस्त्रोंके ज्ञाता थे। उनकी कीर्ति बहुत दूरतक फैली हुई थी। वे महान्‌ तेजस्वी थे

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

dhanvināṁ nṛpaśārdūla yaḥ sarvāstravid uttamaḥ |

mahākīrtir ihātejāḥ sa jajñe manujeśvara nṛpaśreṣṭha rājā janamejaya ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O tiger among kings, O lord of men, O best of rulers—King Janamejaya—there was born one who was the foremost among archers and the best of all who knew the entire science of weapons. His fame spread far and wide, and he was possessed of great splendor.

Word by Word

धन्विनाम्of archers

नृपशार्दूलO tiger among kings

यःwho

सर्वःall / entirely

अस्त्रविद्knower of weapons

उत्तमःexcellent, best

महाकीर्तिःof great fame

इहhere, in this world

अतेजाःnot brilliant (textual reading; likely intended: महातेजाः = very brilliant)

सःhe

जज्ञेwas born / came into being

मनुजेश्वरO lord of men

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Janamejaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse elevates mastery of knowledge (astra-vidyā) and disciplined brilliance (tejas) as forces that shape history; it also hints that exceptional skill and fame carry ethical weight, because such power will influence rulers and the fate of many.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana addresses King Janamejaya and announces the birth of a supremely accomplished figure—foremost among archers and expert in all weapons—whose great fame and radiance foreshadow his major role in the epic’s unfolding events.