आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
द्रुपदश्चैव राजर्षिसतत एवाभवद् गणात् | मानुषे नृप लोकेडस्मिन् सर्वशस्त्रभूृतां वर:,राजा जनमेजय! सम्पूर्ण शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ राजर्षि द्रपद भी इस मनुष्यलोकमें उस मरुदगणसे ही उत्पन्न हुए थे
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
Drupadaś caiva rājarṣiḥ satata evābhavad gaṇāt |
mānuṣe nṛpa loke 'smin sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ |
rājā janamejaya ||
वैशंपायन म्हणाले—राजन् जनमेजया! या मनुष्यलोकात राजर्षी द्रुपद सर्वदा सर्व शस्त्रधारकांमध्ये श्रेष्ठ होते; जाण, ते त्या मरुद्गणातूनच उत्पन्न झाले होते.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse links exceptional worldly power (martial excellence and kingship) with a sacred lineage, implying that greatness carries dharmic responsibility: a ruler’s prowess should be guided by higher order and restraint, not mere force.
Vaiśampāyana continues a genealogical account for King Janamejaya, stating that the royal sage Drupada—renowned among warriors in the human realm—was born from the Marut-host (marudgaṇa), situating Drupada within a divine-associated lineage.