Shloka 15
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
दैतेय: सो5भवद् राजा हार्दिक्यो मनुजर्षभ: । वृषपर्वेति विख्यात: श्रीमान् यस्तु महासुर:
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
daiteyaḥ so 'bhavad rājā hārdikyo manujaarṣabhaḥ |
vṛṣaparveti vikhyātaḥ śrīmān yas tu mahāsuraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Daitya itu lahir dalam kalangan manusia sebagai raja Hārdikya, laksana lembu jantan unggul di antara insan. Dan Asura agung yang mulia, termasyhur sebagai Vṛṣaparvan, pun dikenal di dunia manusia dengan nama yang sama. Demikianlah, beberapa Asura dan Daitya yang perkasa menjelma sebagai raja-raja di bumi, membentuk lanskap politik dan moral tempat pertikaian besar kelak tersingkap.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores an epic motif: beings of Asuric/Daityic lineage can take human birth as kings, implying that political power may carry latent ethical tendencies. It invites discernment—nobility of title and splendor (śrī) do not automatically guarantee dharmic conduct.
Vaiśampāyana continues a catalog of supernatural beings (Daityas/Asuras) who are said to have been born on earth as notable rulers. Here he identifies a Daitya as becoming King Hārdikya, and the famed Asura Vṛṣaparvan as appearing as the king known by that name.