Shloka 86
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
स पाण्डुरिति विख्यात: सत्यधर्मरत: शुचि: । अत्रेस्तु- सुमहाभागं पुत्र पुत्रवतां वरम् । विदुरं विद्धि तं लोके जात॑ बुद्धिमतां वरम्,उन्हींके छोटे भाई महान् शक्तिशाली महाबली पाण्डुके नामसे विख्यात हुए। वे सत्य- धर्ममें तत्पर और पवित्र थे। पुत्रवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ और बुद्धिमानोंमें उत्तम परम सौभाग्यशाली विदुरको तुम इस लोकमें सूर्यपुत्र धर्मके अंशसे उत्पन्न हुआ समझो
sa pāṇḍur iti vikhyātaḥ satyadharmarataḥ śuciḥ | atres tu sumahābhāgaṃ putra putravatāṃ varam | viduraṃ viddhi taṃ loke jātaṃ buddhimatāṃ varam | sūryaputra-dharmāṃśena utpannaṃ manyasva ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: He became renowned by the name Pāṇḍu—pure in conduct, devoted to truth and dharma. And know Vidura in this world to be supremely fortunate, the best among those blessed with sons and the foremost among the wise—born as a portion of Dharma, the son of the Sun.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates ethical character as true nobility: Pāṇḍu is praised for purity and commitment to truth and dharma, while Vidura is presented as the exemplar of wisdom and righteousness, linked to Dharma itself—implying that moral insight and integrity are the highest forms of greatness.
Vaiśaṃpāyana is describing notable figures of the Kuru line: he identifies Pāṇḍu as famous for his virtuous disposition and then instructs the listener to recognize Vidura as exceptionally fortunate and wise, explaining his exalted origin as a partial incarnation of Dharma (associated here with the Sun).