Shloka 5

ज्यामघ-शैब्या-प्रसङ्गः

Jyāmagha and Śaibyā: Kingship, Fear, and Lineage Tension

Devanagari script

अपुत्रा तस्य सा पत्नी शैब्या नाम तथाप्य् असौ अपत्यकामो ऽपि भयान् नान्यां भार्याम् अविन्दत

Transliteration

aputrā tasya sā patnī śaibyā nāma tathāpy asau apatyakāmo 'pi bhayān nānyāṃ bhāryām avindata

Translation

كانت زوجته تُدعى شَيْبْيَا وبقيت بلا ابن؛ ومع أنه كان يتوق إلى الذرية، إلا أنه من شدة الخوف لم يتخذ زوجة أخرى.

Word by Word

• अपुत्रा: sonless
• अपुत्रा: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक विशेषण (without a son)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पत्नी: wife
• पत्नी: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• शैब्या: Śaibyā
• शैब्या: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैब्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Appositive marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामनिर्देशक-अव्यय (indeclinable: by name)

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Sambandha (Concession)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चित-अव्यय (concessive: nevertheless)

• असौ: he (that man)
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपत्यकामः: desiring offspring
• अपत्यकामः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अपत्यं कामयते इति/अपत्यस्य कामः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादार्थक-निपात (also/even)

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana (Cause/Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/Ablative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation)

• अन्याम्: another
• अन्याम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• अविन्दत: did not obtain (found)
• अविन्दत: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; अर्थे: अविन्दत = अलभत/न प्राप्तवान्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

• Śaibyā
• A king (husband in the dynastic narrative)

FAQs

What is the significance of childlessness in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It highlights a dynastic crisis: without an heir the royal lineage and its dharmic continuity are threatened, which is a recurring concern in Ansha 4’s genealogical narrative.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the king’s decision not to take another wife?

Parāśara presents it as restraint born of fear—suggesting awareness of consequences (ethical, social, or political) that could arise from seeking another marriage merely for offspring.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in a seemingly domestic dilemma, the Purana’s dynastic history implies an underlying cosmic governance—lineages rise and continue within Vishnu’s overarching order that sustains society and dharma.