Shloka 17
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
स शाल्व इति विख्यात: पृथिव्यामभवन्नूप: । अश्वग्रीव इति ख्यातः सत्त्ववान् यो महासुर:
sa śālva iti vikhyātaḥ pṛthivyām abhavan nṛpaḥ | aśvagrīva iti khyātaḥ sattvavān yo mahāsuraḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, makhluk perkasa yang masyhur dalam kalangan Asura sebagai Aśvagrīva—berkekuatan dan bersemangat besar—lahir di bumi sebagai pemerintah manusia yang terkenal dengan nama Śālva.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reinforces an epic worldview in which moral and cosmic forces manifest within human history: powerful non-human beings (Asuras) can take birth as kings, implying that political power may carry hidden ethical and karmic weight and must be judged by conduct rather than mere status.
Vaiśaṃpāyana continues a catalog linking Asuras to their human births, stating that the Asura named Aśvagrīva became the earthly king known as Śālva.