Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 8

Dynasty of Kṣatravṛddha: Kāśi Kings, Dhanvantari, Rajī’s Sons, and the Transition to Nahuṣa

Devanagari script

अलर्कात्सन्ततिस्तस्मात् सुनीथोऽथ निकेतन: । धर्मकेतु: सुतस्तस्मात् सत्यकेतुरजायत ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

alarkāt santatis tasmāt sunītho ’tha niketanaḥ dharmaketuḥ sutas tasmāt satyaketur ajāyata

Translation

From Alarka came a son named Santati, and his son was Sunītha. The son of Sunītha was Niketana, the son of Niketana was Dharmaketu, and the son of Dharmaketu was Satyaketu.

Synonyms

• alarkāt: from Alarka
• alarkāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alarka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• santatiḥ: descendant/lineage
• santatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: santati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: from him/therefrom
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sunīthaḥ: Sunītha
• sunīthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunītha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then/next
• atha: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), discourse particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक/प्रसङ्ग)

• niketanaḥ: Niketana
• niketanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niketana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dharmaketuḥ: Dharmaketu
• dharmaketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः as proper name

• sutaḥ: son
• sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: from him
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• satyaketuḥ: Satyaketu
• satyaketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः as proper name

• ajāyata: was born
• ajāyata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Characters & Entities

• Alarka
• Santati
• Sunītha
• Niketana
• Dharmaketu
• Satyaketu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the lineage after King Alarka?

This verse lists the royal succession after Alarka: Santati, Sunītha, Niketana, Dharmaketu, and Satyaketu.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe long genealogies in the Ninth Canto?

He preserves the Purāṇic record of dynasties through which dharma, culture, and ultimately the Lord’s pastimes and devotees appear in history.

What is a practical takeaway from Bhagavatam dynasty verses like this?

They remind us that life is part of a larger chain of responsibility and legacy—encouraging integrity (dharma) and devotion rather than ego over temporary status.