Shloka 8

Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

शुद्धोदनो बाहुलश्च सेनजित्क्षुद्रकस्तथा / सुमित्रः कुडवश्चातः सुमित्रान्मागधाञ्छणु

Transliteration

śuddhodano bāhulaśca senajitkṣudrakastathā / sumitraḥ kuḍavaścātaḥ sumitrānmāgadhāñchaṇu

Translation

وشُدُّهودَنَ (Śuddhodana)، وبَاهُلَ (Bāhula)، وسِينَجِتْ (Senajit)، وكذلك كْشُدْرَكَ (Kṣudraka)؛ وأيضًا سُمِتْرَ (Sumitra) وكُدَڤَ (Kuḍava). والآن اسمع من سُمِتْرَ خبرَ الماغَدْهَ (Māgadhas).

Word by Word

• शुद्धोदनः: Śuddhodana (a name)
• शुद्धोदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + ओदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• बाहुलः: Bāhula (a name)
• बाहुलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सेनजित्: Senajit (a name)
• सेनजित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सेनां जयति इति) नाम

• क्षुद्रकः: Kṣudraka (a name)
• क्षुद्रकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुद्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Connector/Adverbial (समुच्चय/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb) ‘also/likewise’

• सुमित्रः: Sumitra (a name)
• सुमित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु+मित्रः) नाम

• कुडवः: Kuḍava (a name)
• कुडवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुडव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अतः: thereafter/therefore
• अतः: Discourse/Temporal (सम्बन्ध/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/अनन्तरार्थ (therefore/thereafter)

• सुमित्रात्: from Sumitra
• सुमित्रात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• मागधान्: the Māgadhas (people of Magadha)
• मागधान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मागध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• शृणु: hear/listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa (listening) as the method of purāṇic transmission; knowledge proceeds by attentive hearing and orderly narration.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa as a foundational limb toward right understanding (though here applied to historical-purāṇic knowledge).

Application: Practice attentive listening and structured learning; treat received tradition critically yet respectfully, noting transitions and sources.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: janapada/kingdom region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.9 onward (Māgadha kings begin)

Characters & Entities

• Śuddhodana
• Bāhula
• Senajit
• Kṣudraka
• Sumitra
• Kuḍava
• Māgadhas (Magadha people)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing names like Śuddhodana and Senajit in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a genealogical/ethnographic transition, preserving traditional lineages and indicating the textual move toward describing the Māgadhas via Sumitra.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not address the soul’s journey directly; it is part of a names-and-origins passage, likely preceding or supporting broader Purāṇic historical framing rather than afterlife instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study Purāṇic material contextually—some verses preserve lineage and cultural memory, which supports accurate understanding of ritual and dharma teachings elsewhere in the text.