Shloka 82
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
मरुतां तु गणाद् विद्धि संजातमरिमर्दनम् | विराट नाम राजानं परराष्ट्प्रतापनम्,शत्रुराष्ट्रको संताप देनेवाले शत्रुमर्दन राजा विराटको भी मरुदगणोंसे ही उत्पन्न समझो
marutāṁ tu gaṇād viddhi sañjātam arimardanam | virāṭa nāma rājānaṁ pararāṣṭra-pratāpanam ||
Know that the enemy-crushing king named Virāṭa—one who brings distress to hostile realms—was born from the host of the Maruts. The verse places Virāṭa among divinely sourced rulers, implying that true kingship is measured by the protection of one’s people and the restrained strength needed to subdue aggressors.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ideal rulership as divinely sanctioned strength used to check aggression: a king’s valor is ethically justified when directed toward protecting society and restraining hostile powers.
Vaiśampāyana identifies King Virāṭa’s origin, stating that he was born from the Maruts’ host, and characterizes him as an enemy-subduer who can afflict opposing kingdoms—an encomium establishing his stature.