Shloka 40
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
काशिराज: स विख्यात: पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते । ग्रहं तु सुषुवे यं तु सिंहिकार्केन्दुमर्दनम् । स क्राथ इति विख्यातो बभूव मनुजाधिप:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
kāśirājaḥ sa vikhyātaḥ pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpate |
grahaṃ tu suṣuve yaṃ tu siṃhikārkendumardanam |
sa krātha iti vikhyāto babhūva manujādhipaḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai penguasa bumi, raja Kāśī itu termasyhur di dunia. Dan graha yang dilahirkan Siṃhikā—Rāhu, yang mengusik Matahari dan Bulan—lahir di sini di antara manusia sebagai raja yang dikenal dengan nama Krātha.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links celestial forces with human rulership, implying that immense power—especially disruptive power—can manifest in political life; therefore a king must exercise self-control and uphold order rather than magnify chaos.
Vaiśampāyana continues the catalogue of beings taking human birth, stating that the graha Rāhu—born of Siṃhikā and known for afflicting the Sun and Moon—became a human ruler named Krātha, while also noting the renown of the king of Kāśī.