Shloka 13

Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage

Devanagari script

केतुमालो नृपस्तेभ्यस्तत्संज्ञान् खण्डकान्ददौ / नाभेस्तु मेरुदेव्यां तु पुत्रो ऽभूदृषभो हर

Transliteration

ketumālo nṛpastebhyastatsaṃjñān khaṇḍakāndadau / nābhestu merudevyāṃ tu putro 'bhūdṛṣabho hara

Translation

الملك كيتومالا (Ketumāla) منحهم الأقسام الإقليمية التي تحمل تلك الأسماء عينها. وأمّا نابهي (Nābhi)، فمن ميروديفي (Merudevī) وُلد له ابنٌ هو رِشَبها (Ṛṣabha)، يا هارا (Hara).

Word by Word

• केतुमालः: Ketumāla (name)
• केतुमालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नृपः: king
• नृपः: Apposition (Same-subject/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तत्संज्ञान्: bearing those names
• तत्संज्ञान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (तत्-संज्ञान् = 'having those names')

• खण्डकान्: divisions/sections (khaṇḍas)
• खण्डकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नाभेः: of Nābhi
• नाभेः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle/but/indeed)

• मेरुदेव्याम्: in/through Merudevī (as mother)
• मेरुदेव्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरुदेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभूत्: was born/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha (name)
• ऋषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हर: O Hara
• हर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Righteous kingship includes orderly distribution/administration of territories; dynastic continuity is portrayed as divinely aligned.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order (loka-saṅgraha) within the manifest world.

Application: In leadership roles, prioritize fair allocation of responsibilities/resources; honor family duties while recognizing higher purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal/territorial divisions within mythic geography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.14 (Bharata at Śālagrāma; lineage continues)

Characters & Entities

• Ketumāla
• Nābhi
• Merudevī
• Ṛṣabha
• Hara (addressed)

FAQs

What is the importance of King Ketumāla giving ‘khaṇḍas’ in the Garuda Purana?

It signals the orderly division of realms/territories in the Purāṇic world-view, linking named regions to rulers and lineages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a genealogical and cosmographic narration establishing sacred lineages and regions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages respect for dharmic order—responsible governance, proper stewardship of one’s domain, and honoring lineage/heritage with ethical conduct.