Mahabharata 1.98.18 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 98, Shloka 18
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 98 — Paraśurāma’s kṣatriya suppression; Dīrghatamas, Bali, Sudēṣṇā, and the birth of Aṅga
(प्रतीपस्य तु भारयायां गर्भ: श्रीमानवर्धत । श्रिया परमया युक्त: शरच्छुक्ले यथा शशी ।।
pratīpasya tu bhāryāyāṃ garbhaḥ śrīmān avardhata | śriyā paramayā yuktaḥ śaracchukle yathā śaśī || tatas tu daśame māsi prājāyata raviprabhām | kumāraṃ devagarbhābhāṃ pratīpamahīṣī tadā || tayoḥ samabhavat putro vṛddhayoḥ sa mahābhiṣaḥ ||
प्रतीपस्य तु भार्यायां गर्भः श्रीमानवर्धत । श्रिया परमया युक्तः शरच्छुक्ले यथा शशी ॥ ततस्तु दशमे मासि प्राजायत रविप्रभम् । कुमारं देवगर्भाभं प्रतीपमहिषी तदा ॥ तयोः समभवत् पुत्रो वृद्धयोः स महाभिषः ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage emphasizes auspicious, dharmic kingship arising through legitimate lineage and divine order: extraordinary rulers may return to the world when conditions are ripe, and their birth is framed as a sign of responsibility rather than mere privilege.
Vaiśampāyana describes how Pratīpa’s aged queen conceives and bears a son of sun-like brilliance; this child is identified as the former king Mahābhiṣa, now born again as their son.
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