Shloka 116
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
ऐन्द्रिनरस्तु भविता यस्य नारायण: सखा । सोर्ड्जुनेत्यभिविख्यात: पाण्डो: पुत्र: प्रतापवान्
aindrī-naras tu bhavitā yasya nārāyaṇaḥ sakhā | so 'rjuna ity abhivikhyātaḥ pāṇḍoḥ putraḥ pratāpavān ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Nara itu—yang membawa sebahagian daripada Indra dan yang Nārāyaṇa menjadi sahabat karibnya—akan lahir di muka bumi. Di sana dia akan masyhur dengan nama Arjuna, dan akan dihitung sebagai putera Pāṇḍu yang gagah lagi perkasa.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Arjuna’s life as divinely purposed: heroic capacity (Indra’s portion) is to be guided by sacred companionship (Nārāyaṇa as friend). Ethically, it suggests that power and fame are meant to serve dharma when aligned with divine counsel and right friendship.
Vaiśaṃpāyana foretells the earthly manifestation of the divine Nara, identifying him as the future Arjuna—Pāṇḍu’s renowned and mighty son—whose constant companion is Nārāyaṇa.