Shloka 2

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 115 — Mādri’s request; invocation of the Aśvins; birth and naming of the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

पाण्डो: कुन्त्यां च माद्रयां च पुत्रा: पजच महारथा: । देवेभ्य: समपद्यन्त संतानाय कुलस्य वै,पाण्डुके कुन्ती और माद्रीके गर्भसे पाँच महारथी पुत्र उत्पन्न हुए। वे सब कुरुकुलकी संतानपरम्पराकी रक्षाके लिये देवताओंके अंशसे प्रकट हुए थे

Transliteration

pāṇḍoḥ kuntyāṃ ca mādryāṃ ca putrāḥ pañca mahārathāḥ | devebhyaḥ samapadyanta santānāya kulasya vai ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：“般度由昆蒂与摩德丽生下五子——皆为大车战士。他们以诸神之分身而出，为使家族血脉得以延续并守护。”

Word by Word

पाण्डोःof Pāṇḍu

कुन्त्याम्in/through Kuntī (womb of Kuntī)

चand

माद्र्याम्in/through Mādrī (womb of Mādrī)

चand

पुत्राःsons

पञ्चfive

महारथाःgreat chariot-warriors

देवेभ्यःfrom the gods

समपद्यन्तwere born/appeared; came into being

संतानायfor the continuance/lineage

कुलस्यof the family/dynasty

वैindeed

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍu

Kuntī

Mādrī

the five Pāṇḍava sons (collectively)

the gods (devas)

kula (dynasty/family line)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the Pāṇḍavas’ birth as divinely purposed: extraordinary individuals arise not merely by human lineage but as instruments for preserving the continuity and rightful order of the dynasty, implying a providential dimension to dharma and succession.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana states that Pāṇḍu’s two queens, Kuntī and Mādrī, bore five heroic sons. Their birth is described as arising from the gods, emphasizing that the Pāṇḍavas are divinely endowed and destined to sustain the family line.