Shloka 43
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
बली वीर इति ख्यातो यस्त्वासीदसुरोत्तम: । पौण्ड्रमात्स्यक इत्येवं बभूव स नराधिप:,महाबली वीर नामसे विख्यात जो श्रेष्ठ असुर (विक्षरका तीसरा भाई) था, पौण्ड्रमात्स्यक नामसे प्रसिद्ध राजा हुआ
balī vīra iti khyāto yas tv āsīd asurottamaḥ | pauṇḍramātsyaka ity evaṃ babhūva sa narādhipaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Asura yang terunggul itu, masyhur dengan nama ‘Balī Vīra’, kemudian menjadi raja manusia, dikenal di dunia sebagai Pauṇḍramātsyaka.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights continuity of reputation and inherent potency across changing forms: an exalted Asura identity can culminate in human kingship, suggesting that status shifts with birth while renown follows one’s nature and deeds.
Vaiśampāyana identifies a figure previously famed as the mighty hero Balī Vīra among the Asuras and states that he later became a human ruler known by the name Pauṇḍramātsyaka.