Shloka 12
Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)
गाधिनाम महानासीत् क्षत्रिय: प्रथितो भुवि | तस्य पुत्रो5भवद् राजन विश्वामित्र: प्रतापवान्,राजन! पहले इस भूतलपर गाधिनामसे विख्यात महान क्षत्रिय राजा राज्य करते थे। प्रतापी विश्वामित्र उन्हींके पुत्र थे
Vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
Gādhīnām mahān āsīt kṣatriyaḥ prathito bhuvi |
Tasya putro 'bhavad rājan Viśvāmitraḥ pratāpavān ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, di bumi ini dahulu pernah hidup seorang Kṣatriya agung, masyhur dengan nama Gādhi. Puteranya, wahai raja, ialah Viśvāmitra yang perkasa dan gagah berani.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the importance of lineage and reputation in the Kṣatriya world: greatness is marked by public renown (prathitaḥ) and demonstrated power (pratāpa). It also sets up Viśvāmitra’s stature by rooting him in a celebrated royal line, a common Mahābhārata method of establishing authority and ethical weight for later events.
Vaiśaṃpāyana, addressing the king, introduces a brief genealogical note: the famous Kṣatriya king Gādhi lived on earth, and his son was the mighty Viśvāmitra. This functions as background information preparing the listener for a connected episode or exemplum involving these figures.