Shloka 117
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
तस्यायं भविता पुत्रो बालो भुवि महारथ: । ततः: षोडश वर्षाणि स्थास्यत्यमरसत्तमा:
tasyāyaṃ bhavitā putro bālo bhuvi mahārathaḥ | tataḥ ṣoḍaśa varṣāṇi sthāsyaty amara-sattamāḥ ||
तस्यायं भविता पुत्रो बालो भुवि महारथः। ततः षोडश वर्षाणि स्थास्यत्यमर-सत्तमाः॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the epic theme that personal destiny and social role (especially kṣatriya excellence) are often framed as foretold and witnessed by higher powers; greatness is presented as a responsibility that unfolds with time and discipline, not merely as birthright.
Vaiśampāyana delivers a prophetic statement to the gods: a certain person will have a son who will be recognized as a mahāratha even in boyhood, and the child will remain in that specified place/condition until he reaches sixteen years of age.