Shloka 115
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
पाण्डोस्तु जज्ञिरे पज्च पुत्रा देवसमा: पृथक् । द्वयो: स्त्रियोर्गुणज्येष्ठस्तेषामासीद् युधिष्ठिर:
pāṇḍos tu jajñire pañca putrā devasamāḥ pṛthak | dvayoḥ striyor guṇajyeṣṭhas teṣām āsīd yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ||
ダーシャは言った。「パーンドゥには五人の王子が生まれた。いずれもそれぞれ別々に宿され、姿は神々にも比すべきであった。二人の妃から生まれた子らのうち、ユディシュティラは長子であり、徳行において最も卓越していた――ダルマを支え、正しき王道を成り立たせる諸徳において群を抜いていたのである。」
दाश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true seniority is not merely by birth but by guṇa—ethical excellence. Yudhiṣṭhira is presented as the model of dharma-based leadership, where virtue legitimizes authority.
Daśa continues the genealogical account: Pāṇḍu’s two wives bear five sons, each ‘godlike’ and born separately (alluding to distinct divine begetters). Among them, Yudhiṣṭhira is identified as the eldest and foremost in virtues.