Shloka 8
Kaurava Court Hears of the Pāṇḍavas’ Forest Hardship (वैचित्रवीर्यवंशीयस्य राज्ञः करुणाविचारः)
कन्योवाच देवदानवयक्षाणां किन्नरोरगरक्षसाम् | जेता यो दुष्टदैत्यानां महावीयों महाबल:,कन्या बोली--देवराज! जो देवता, दानव, यक्ष, किन्नर, नाग, राक्षस तथा दुष्ट दैत्योंको जीतनेवाला हो; जिसका पराक्रम महान् और बल असाधारण हो तथा जो तुम्हारे साथ रहकर समस्त प्राणियोंपर विजय प्राप्त कर सके, वह ब्राह्मणहितैषी तथा अपने यशकी वृद्धि करनेवाला वीर पुरुष मेरा पति होगा
kanyovāca devadānavayakṣāṇāṃ kinnaroragarakṣasām | jetā yo duṣṭadaityānāṃ mahāvīryo mahābalaḥ ||
A donzela disse: “Ó senhor dos deuses! Aquele que puder conquistar devas, dānavas, yakṣas, kinnaras, nāgas e rākṣasas—vencedor dos daityas perversos—dotado de grande valor e força extraordinária; e que, ao teu lado, possa obter vitória sobre todos os seres: esse herói, benfeitor dos brāhmaṇas e aumentador de sua própria fama, será meu esposo.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ideal of worthiness for marriage grounded in heroic capability joined with ethical orientation: true strength is not merely the power to defeat formidable beings, but also the commitment to uphold dharma—here signaled by being a well-wisher of brāhmaṇas—and to earn fame through righteous excellence.
A maiden publicly declares the qualifications for the man she will accept as husband: he must be a supreme conqueror of various classes of powerful beings, possess great valor and strength, be able to secure universal victory alongside the lord of the gods, and be devoted to the welfare of brāhmaṇas while enhancing his renown.