आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
शूरो नाम यदुश्रेष्ठो वसुदेवपिताभवत् । तस्य कन्या पृथा नाम रूपेणासदृशी भुवि
śūro nāma yaduśreṣṭho vasudevapito 'bhavat | tasya kanyā pṛthā nāma rūpeṇāsadṛśī bhuvi ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dalam kalangan Yadu ada seorang yang terunggul bernama Śūra, yang menjadi bapa kepada Vasudeva. Dia mempunyai seorang puteri bernama Pṛthā, yang kecantikannya tiada bandingan di seluruh bumi.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s emphasis on lineage and personal excellence as narrative foundations: noble ancestry and notable qualities (like incomparable beauty) are presented not merely as praise, but as contextual causes that shape later responsibilities, alliances, and dharmic consequences.
Vaiśampāyana introduces key figures connected to the Yādava line: Śūra is identified as Vasudeva’s father, and Śūra’s daughter Pṛthā (later known as Kuntī) is introduced as uniquely beautiful—setting up her later role in major dynastic and ethical developments.