Shloka 5
आदि पर्व — अध्याय ८३: ययाति-इन्द्र-संवादः तथा अष्टक-प्रश्नः
Yayāti–Indra Dialogue and Aṣṭaka’s Inquiry
देवयान्युवाच शोभनं भीरु यद्येवमथ स ज्ञायते द्विज: । गोत्रनामाभिजनतो वेत्तुमिच्छामि तं॑ द्विजम्,देवयानीने कहा--भीरु! यदि ऐसी बात है तो बहुत अच्छा हुआ। क्या उन द्विजके गोत्र, नाम और कुलका कुछ परिचय मिला है? मैं उनको जानना चाहती हूँ
devayāny uvāca śobhanaṃ bhīru yady evam atha sa jñāyate dvijaḥ | gotranāmābhijanato vettum icchāmi taṃ dvijam ||
Devayānī said, “That is good, timid one. If this is so, and the brahmin can indeed be identified, I wish to know that brahmin by his lineage—his gotra, his name, and his family background.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the dharmic importance traditionally placed on knowing a person’s identity through gotra, name, and family background—especially in contexts like alliance, marriage, and social responsibility—so that actions are taken with proper discernment and propriety.
Devayānī responds to a companion, saying it is good news if the brahmin can be identified, and she asks for his gotra, name, and family lineage so she may know who he is.