Shloka 61
आदि पर्व, अध्याय 67 — गान्धर्वविवाह-समयः
Duḥṣanta–Śakuntalā: Gandharva Marriage and Succession Condition
क्रथो विचित्र: सुरथ: श्रीमान् नीलश्न भूमिप: । चीरवासाश्न कौरव्य भूमिपालश्न नामत:,मद्रक, क्णवेष्ट, सिद्धार्थ, कीटक, सुवीर, सुबाहु, महावीर, बाह्लिक, क्रथ, विचित्र, सुरथ, श्रीमान् नील नरेश, चीरवासा, भूमिपाल, दन्तवक्त्र, दानव दुर्जय, नृपश्रेष्ठ रुक्मी, राजा जनमेजय, आषाढ, वायुवेग, भूरितेजा, एकलव्य, सुमित्र, वाटधान, गोमुख, करूषदेशके अनेक राजा, क्षेमधूर्ति, श्रुतायु, उद्वह, बृहत्सेन, क्षेम, उग्रतीर्थ, कलिंग-नरेश कुहर तथा परम बुद्धिमान् मनुष्योंका राजा ईश्वर
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: Kratho vicitraḥ surathaḥ śrīmān nīlaś ca bhūmipaḥ | cīravāsāś ca kauravya bhūmipālaś ca nāmataḥ | madrakaḥ kṛṇaveṣṭaḥ siddhārthaḥ kīṭakaḥ suvīraḥ subāhuḥ mahāvīraḥ bāhlikaḥ krathaḥ vicitraḥ surathaḥ śrīmān nīla-nareśaḥ cīravāsā bhūmipālaḥ dantavaktraḥ dānava-durjayaḥ nṛpaśreṣṭhaḥ rukmī rājā janamejayaḥ āṣāḍhaḥ vāyuvegaḥ bhūritejā ekalavyaḥ sumitraḥ vāṭadhānaḥ gomukhaḥ karūṣadeśake aneke rājānaḥ kṣemadhūrtiḥ śrutāyuḥ udvahaḥ bṛhatsenāḥ kṣemaḥ ugratīrthaḥ kaliṅga-nareśaḥ kuharaḥ tathā parama-buddhimān manuṣyāṇāṃ rājā īśvaraḥ
వైశంపాయనుడు పలికెను—ఓ కౌరవ్యా! పేరుపేరునా ఈ రాజులూ ఉన్నారు—క్రథుడు, విచిత్రుడు, సురథుడు, శ్రీమంతుడైన నీలుడు, చీరవాసుడు, భూమిపాలుడు.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse functions as an epic ‘catalog’ of rulers, implying that fame and authority are embedded in a wider moral-political order: kings are remembered not merely as individuals but as bearers of responsibility (bhūmipāla—‘protector of the earth’), whose alliances and conduct will shape later dharmic outcomes.
Vaiśampāyana continues narrating to King Janamejaya by enumerating many kings and regional rulers (including those of Karūṣa and Kaliṅga). This list situates the story-world’s breadth and prepares the audience for how numerous lineages and realms become involved in the epic’s unfolding conflicts.