Shloka 11
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
पज्चैते जज्ञिरे राजन् वीर्यवन्तो महासुरा: । केकयेषु महात्मान: पार्थिवर्षभसत्तमा: | केतुमानिति विख्यातो यस्ततो<न्य: प्रतापवान्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
pañcaite jajñire rājan vīryavanto mahāsurāḥ |
kekayeṣu mahātmānaḥ pārthivarṣabhasattamāḥ |
ketumān iti vikhyāto yastato 'nyaḥ pratāpavān |
ayaḥśirā aśvaśirā vīryavān ayaḥśaṅkuḥ |
gaganamūrdhā ca vegavān ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, lima Asura agung yang perkasa itu lahir di kalangan Kekaya sebagai pemerintah berjiwa besar—laksana lembu jantan unggul antara raja-raja. Berbeza daripada mereka, ada seorang lagi yang berkuasa, masyhur dengan nama Ketumān, seorang yang gagah. (Bersamanya turut disebut) Ayaḥśiras, Aśvaśiras, Ayaḥśaṅku yang kuat, dan Gaganamūrdhan yang pantas dalam keperwiraan.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse supports a Mahābhārata-wide idea that moral and psychological forces (daivic/asuric tendencies) can manifest through human birth and political power. It cautions that royal greatness in status may coexist with destructive dispositions, shaping later conflicts.
Vaiśampāyana continues a genealogical/cosmological catalogue, telling King Janamejaya that five great Asuras were born among the Kekayas as eminent kings, and he names additional formidable figures such as Ketumān, Ayaḥśiras, Aśvaśiras, Ayaḥśaṅku, and Gaganamūrdhan.