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Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 36

Dakṣa’s Daughters, Cosmic Lineages, and the Population of the Three Worlds

वैश्वानरसुता याश्च चतस्रश्चारुदर्शना: । उपदानवी हयशिरा पुलोमा कालका तथा ॥ ३३ ॥ उपदानवीं हिरण्याक्ष: क्रतुर्हयशिरां नृप । पुलोमां कालकां च द्वे वैश्वानरसुते तु क: ॥ ३४ ॥ उपयेमेऽथ भगवान् कश्यपो ब्रह्मचोदित: । पौलोमा: कालकेयाश्च दानवा युद्धशालिन: ॥ ३५ ॥ तयो: षष्टिसहस्राणि यज्ञघ्नांस्ते पितु: पिता । जघान स्वर्गतो राजन्नेक इन्द्रप्रियङ्कर: ॥ ३६ ॥

vaiśvānara-sutā yāś ca catasraś cāru-darśanāḥ upadānavī hayaśirā pulomā kālakā tathā

Vaiśvānara, the son of Danu, had four beautiful daughters, named Upadānavī, Hayaśirā, Pulomā and Kālakā. Hiraṇyākṣa married Upadānavī, and Kratu married Hayaśirā. Thereafter, at the request of Lord Brahmā, Prajāpati Kaśyapa married Pulomā and Kālakā, the other two daughters of Vaiśvānara. From the wombs of these two wives of Kaśyapa came sixty thousand sons, headed by Nivātakavaca, who are known as the Paulomas and the Kālakeyas. They were physically very strong and expert in fighting, and their aim was to disturb the sacrifices performed by the great sages. My dear King, when your grandfather Arjuna went to the heavenly planets, he alone killed all these demons, and thus King Indra became extremely affectionate toward him.

vaiśvānara-sutāḥthe daughters of Vaiśvānara
vaiśvānara-sutāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootvaiśvānara + sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘vaiśvānara-sutā’ = ‘vaiśvānaraस्य sutāḥ’
yāḥwho/which
yāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); relative pronoun
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/particle)
catasraḥfour
catasraḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootcatur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); numeral adjective qualifying sutāḥ
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamucchaya-nipāta (conjunction)
cāru-darśanāḥbeautiful in appearance
cāru-darśanāḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootcāru + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Bahuvacana (pl.); कर्मधारय: ‘cāruṃ darśanaṃ yāsām’/‘cāru-darśanāḥ’ = beautiful-looking
upadānavīUpadānavī
upadānavī:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootupadānavī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); proper name
hayaśirāHayaśirā
hayaśirā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Roothaya + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘haya-śirā’ = ‘horse-headed’ (proper name)
pulomāPulomā
pulomā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootpulomā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); proper name
kālakāKālakā
kālakā:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootkālakā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅga (f.), Prathamā (Nom. 1), Ekavacana (sg.); proper name
tathāalso/likewise
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; adverb/particle of addition
V
Vaiśvānara
U
Upadānavī
H
Hayaśirā
P
Pulomā
K
Kālakā

FAQs

The verse lists four daughters of Vaiśvānara: Upadānavī, Hayaśirā, Pulomā, and Kālakā.

He is narrating sacred genealogies that explain the origins of various beings and lineages appearing later in the Purāṇic histories.

They cultivate a broad Vedic worldview—seeing history, karma, and character as interconnected—encouraging humility and discernment about one’s own lineage and actions.