Shloka 5

Devanagari script

द्रुपदस्य सुता होषा वेदिमध्यात्‌ समुत्थिता । अयोनिजा महाभागा स्नुषा पाण्डोर्महात्मन:,यह परम सौभाग्यशालिनी ट्रुपदकुमारी यज्ञकी वेदीसे प्रकट हुई है; अतः अयोनिजा है (इसे गर्भवासका कष्ट नहीं सहन करना पड़ा है)। इसे महात्मा पाण्डुकी पुत्रवधू होनेका गौरव भी मिला है

Transliteration

drupadasya sutā hoṣā vedimadhyāt samutthitā | ayonijā mahābhāgā snuṣā pāṇḍor mahātmanaḥ ||

Translation

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “The daughter of Drupada—Hoṣā—arose from the very midst of the sacrificial altar. Born not from a womb, she is greatly fortunate; and she has also attained the honored status of being the daughter-in-law of the great-souled Pāṇḍu.”

Word by Word

द्रुपदस्यof Drupada

सुताdaughter

होषाHoshā (proper name)

वेदि-मध्यात्from the middle of the altar

समुत्थिताarisen, emerged

अयोनिजाnot womb-born

महाभागाvery fortunate, illustrious

स्नुषाdaughter-in-law

पाण्डोःof Pāṇḍu

महात्मनःof the great-souled (one)

Speaker

युधिषछ्िर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Drupada

Hoṣā

Pāṇḍu

Vedi (sacrificial altar)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how social and ethical honor in the epic is tied to both extraordinary origins (ritual, non-womb birth) and rightful relational status (being a lawful daughter-in-law of a noble house), underscoring the Mahābhārata’s concern with legitimacy, dignity, and dharmic standing.

What is happening in the narrative?

Yudhiṣṭhira identifies and praises Drupada’s daughter, emphasizing that she emerged from the sacrificial altar (vedi) and is therefore ayonijā, and he further notes her elevated position as the daughter-in-law of Pāṇḍu, framing her as exceptionally fortunate and honored.