Shloka 2
धृतराष्ट्र–दुर्योधन संवादः
Vāraṇāvata-vivāsana-nīti: Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana’s Policy Dialogue
वैशम्पायन उवाच महर्षेगौतमस्यासीच्छरद्वान् नाम गौतम: । पुत्र: किल महाराज जात: सह शरैरविंभो,वैशम्पायनजीने कहा--महाराज! महर्षि गौतमके शरद्वान् गौतम- नामसे प्रसिद्ध एक पुत्र थे। प्रभो! कहते हैं, वे सरकंडोंके साथ उत्पन्न हुए थे। परंतप! उनकी बुद्धि धनुर्वेदमें जितनी लगती थी, उतनी वेदोंके अध्ययनमें नहीं
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: maharṣe Gautamasyāsīc Charadvān nāma Gautamaḥ | putraḥ kila mahārāja jātaḥ saha śarair avimbho ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O king, the great sage Gautama had a son known by the name Śaradvān Gautama. It is said, O mighty one, that he was born together with reeds (śara).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the importance of lineage and the mysterious, often symbolic nature of births in epic tradition—suggesting that a person’s origin and name can foreshadow their life’s tendencies (here, association with śara, ‘reeds/arrow-shafts,’ hinting at martial orientation).
Vaiśampāyana introduces Śaradvān, identifying him as the son of the sage Gautama and noting the tradition that he was born along with reeds (śara), setting up his background for subsequent events.