Shloka 5
Kaurava Court Hears of the Pāṇḍavas’ Forest Hardship (वैचित्रवीर्यवंशीयस्य राज्ञः करुणाविचारः)
इन्द्र वाच मम मातृष्वसेयी त्वं माता दाक्षायणी मम । आख्यातुं त्वहमिच्छामि स्वयमात्मबलं त्वया,इन्द्र बोले--शुभे! तुम मेरी मौसेरी बहिन हो। मेरी माता भी दक्षकी ही पुत्री हैं। मेरी इच्छा है कि तुम स्वयं ही अपने बलका परिचय दो
indra uvāca | mama mātṛṣvasīyī tvaṃ mātā dākṣāyaṇī mama | ākhyātuṃ tv aham icchāmi svayam ātmabalaṃ tvayā ||
Sinabi ni Indra: “O mapalad, ikaw ay aking pinsang-kapatid sa panig ng ina; ang aking ina man ay anak na babae ni Dakṣa. Nais kong ikaw mismo ang magpahayag at magpakilala ng iyong sariling lakas.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds two values: recognition of relational bonds (kinship and shared lineage) and the ethical demand for self-attestation—one should be able to account for one’s own capacity and responsibility rather than relying on reputation alone.
Indra addresses a female figure as his maternal cousin-sister and notes that his mother is also a daughter of Dakṣa, establishing familial proximity. He then asks her to personally reveal or demonstrate her own strength, setting up a test or disclosure of power within the episode.