Shloka 29
Duḥṣanta at Kaṇva-Āśrama; Śakuntalā’s Reception and Origin Prelude (दुःषन्तस्य कण्वाश्रमागमनम्)
एकाक्षो मृतपा वीर: प्रलम्बनरकावपि । वातापी शत्रुतपन: शठश्वैव महासुर:,एकाक्ष, वीर मृतपा, प्रलम्ब, नरक, वातापी, शत्रुतपन, महान् असुर शठ, गविष्ठ, वनायु तथा दानव दीर्घजिह्न। भारत! इन सबके पुत्र-पौत्र असंख्य बताये गये हैं
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
ekākṣo mṛtapaḥ vīraḥ pralambanarako 'pi |
vātāpī śatrutapanaḥ śaṭhaś caiva mahāsuraḥ |
gaviṣṭho vanāyuś ca tathā dānava dīrghajihnaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Lại có dũng sĩ Ekākṣa, Mṛtapa, cùng Pralamba và Naraka; Vātāpi, Śatrutapana, và đại asura Śaṭha; lại có Gaviṣṭha, Vanāyu, và dānava Dīrghajihna. Hỡi Bhārata, con cháu của tất cả bọn họ được nói là vô số.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic idea that destructive tendencies (asuric/adharmic forces) can expand rapidly through lineage and alliance; the narrative emphasis on “innumerable descendants” conveys the scale of the challenge that dharma must eventually confront.
Vaiśampāyana continues a genealogical listing of powerful asuras/dānavas and notes that their progeny were countless, broadening the background population of formidable beings within the Mahābhārata’s mythic history.