Mahabharata 7.63.6 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 63, Shloka 6
Droṇa’s Cakra-Śakaṭa Vyūha and the Protection of Jayadratha (द्रोणकृतः चक्रशकटव्यूहः)
यज्ञैर्ननाविधैरिष्टवा प्रजामुत्पाद्य चोत्तमाम् । देवयान्यां चौशनस्यां शर्मिष्ठायां च धर्मत:
yajñair nānāvidhair iṣṭvā prajām utpādya cottamām | devayānyāṃ cauśanasyāṃ śarmiṣṭhāyāṃ ca dharmataḥ ||
نارد نے کہا—“اس نے ناناقسم کے یَجْنوں کے ذریعے عبادت کی، اور دھرم کے مطابق بہترین اولاد پیدا کی؛ شُکر کی بیٹی دیویانی میں بھی اور دانَو راجا کی بیٹی شرمِشٹھا میں بھی اس نے دھرم کے مطابق اولاد حاصل کی۔”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links righteous kingship to two complementary duties: sustaining sacred order through yajña (ritual responsibility) and sustaining lineage/society through dharmic conduct in family life. ‘Dharmataḥ’ emphasizes legitimacy and ethical restraint rather than mere power or desire.
Nārada describes a ruler (implied from the wider Devayānī–Śarmiṣṭhā cycle) who performs many sacrifices and then begets excellent children with Devayānī (Śukra’s daughter) and with Śarmiṣṭhā, presenting these events as occurring in accordance with dharma.
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