वासुदेव उवाच
एवम् उक्ते तु गान्धार्या धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः ॥
दुर्योधनम् उवाचेदं नृपमध्ये जनाधिप ॥
दुर्योधन निबोधेदं यत् त्वां वक्ष्यामि पुत्रक ॥
तथा तत् कुरु भद्रं ते यद्य् अस्ति पितृगौरवम् ॥
सोमः प्रजापतिः पूर्वं कुरूणां वंशवर्धनः ॥
सोमाद् बभूव षष्ठो वै ययातिर् नहुषात्मजः ॥
तस्य पुत्रा बभूवुश् च पञ्च राजर्षिसत्तमाः ॥
तेषां यदुर् महातेजा ज्येष्ठः समभवत् प्रभुः ॥
पूरुर् यवीयांश् च ततो यो ऽस्माकं वंशवर्धनः ॥
शर्मिष्ठायाः संप्रसूतो दुहितुर् वृषपर्वणः ॥
vāsudeva uvāca
evam ukte tu gāndhāryā dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ ||
duryodhanam uvācedaṃ nṛpamadhye janādhipa ||
duryodhana nibodhedaṃ yat tvāṃ vakṣyāmi putraka ||
tathā tat kuru bhadraṃ te yady asti pitṛgauravam ||
somaḥ prajāpatiḥ pūrvaṃ kurūṇāṃ vaṃśavardhanaḥ ||
somād babhūva ṣaṣṭho vai yayātir nahuṣātmajaḥ ||
tasya putrā babhūvuś ca pañca rājarṣisattamāḥ ||
teṣāṃ yadur mahātejā jyeṣṭhaḥ samabhavat prabhuḥ ||
pūrur yavīyāṃś ca tato yo 'smākaṃ vaṃśavardhanaḥ ||
śarmiṣṭhāyāḥ saṃprasūto duhitur vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ ||
Vasudeva said: When Gandhari had spoken thus, Dhritarashtra, lord of men, addressed Duryodhana amid the kings, O ruler of the people: 'Duryodhana, hear what I shall tell you, my son. Act accordingly; may it be well with you, if you hold any reverence for your father. In ancient times, Soma-Prajapati was the one who extended the line of Kuru. From Soma, sixth in descent, was born Yayati, son of Nahusha. Five sons were born to him, the finest of royal sages; among them the mighty lord Yadu was the eldest. Then came the younger Puru, the one who extended our own line, born of Sharmishtha, daughter of Vrishaparvan.'
746625a5f03f · published Jul 17, 2026, 6:17:17 AM UTC
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Dhritarashtra proves to Duryodhana the Pandavas' right not through abstract morality but through examples from their own family history. Seniority by itself does not confer power when dharma, the capacity to rule, and the consent of elders have been violated; legitimate succession belongs to the one who unites rightful claim with the qualities of a ruler.