Shloka 80
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
द्रुपदश्चैव राजर्षिसतत एवाभवद् गणात् | मानुषे नृप लोकेडस्मिन् सर्वशस्त्रभूृतां वर:,राजा जनमेजय! सम्पूर्ण शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ राजर्षि द्रपद भी इस मनुष्यलोकमें उस मरुदगणसे ही उत्पन्न हुए थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Drupadaś caiva rājarṣiḥ satata evābhavad gaṇāt |
mānuṣe nṛpa loke 'smin sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ |
rājā janamejaya ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O King Janamejaya, the royal sage Drupada—ever foremost among all who bear arms in this human world—was indeed born from that very host (gaṇa) of the Maruts. Thus the tale declares that eminent kings are traced to divine lineages, joining worldly prowess to a sacred origin and to the duties such stature demands.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links exceptional worldly power (martial excellence and kingship) with a sacred lineage, implying that greatness carries dharmic responsibility: a ruler’s prowess should be guided by higher order and restraint, not mere force.
Vaiśampāyana continues a genealogical account for King Janamejaya, stating that the royal sage Drupada—renowned among warriors in the human realm—was born from the Marut-host (marudgaṇa), situating Drupada within a divine-associated lineage.