Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 19
Rantideva’s Supreme Charity and the Hastī Lineage
Hastināpura and Pañcāla Origins
गर्गाच्छिनिस्ततो गार्ग्य: क्षत्राद् ब्रह्म ह्यवर्तत । दुरितक्षयो महावीर्यात् तस्य त्रय्यारुणि: कवि: ॥ १९ ॥ पुष्करारुणिरित्यत्र ये ब्राह्मणगतिं गता: । बृहत्क्षत्रस्य पुत्रोऽभूद्धस्ती यद्धस्तिनापुरम् ॥ २० ॥
gargāc chinis tato gārgyaḥ kṣatrād brahma hy avartata duritakṣayo mahāvīryāt tasya trayyāruṇiḥ kaviḥ
From Garga came a son named Śini, and his son was Gārgya. Although Gārgya was a kṣatriya, there came from him a generation of brahmaṇas. From Mahāvīrya came a son named Duritakṣaya, whose sons were Trayyāruṇi, Kavi and Puṣkarāruṇi. Although these sons of Duritakṣaya took birth in a dynasty of kṣatriyas, they too attained the position of brāhmaṇas. Bṛhatkṣatra had a son named Hastī, who established the city of Hastināpura [now New Delhi].
FAQs
This verse states that from a kṣatriya line (through Śini and Gārgya), brahminical status (brahma) manifested—highlighting that spiritual qualification and Vedic status can appear through lineage transformations and merit.
Śukadeva is narrating dynastic genealogy to preserve the historical and dharmic continuity of royal and sage lineages within the Bhāgavatam’s sacred history.
It encourages respect for genuine qualities—learning, character, and spiritual culture—rather than judging worth only by birth, while still honoring the tradition of disciplined Vedic training.