Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 12
The Kuru Line, Bhīṣma and Vyāsa; Pāṇḍavas, Parīkṣit, and Future Kings
Chandravaṁśa Continuation
देवापि: शान्तनुस्तस्य बाह्लीक इति चात्मजा: । पितृराज्यं परित्यज्य देवापिस्तु वनं गत: ॥ १२ ॥ अभवच्छान्तनू राजा प्राङ्महाभिषसंज्ञित: । यं यं कराभ्यां स्पृशति जीर्णं यौवनमेति स: ॥ १३ ॥
devāpiḥ śāntanus tasya bāhlīka iti cātmajāḥ pitṛ-rājyaṁ parityajya devāpis tu vanaṁ gataḥ
Die Söhne Pratīpas waren Devāpi, Śāntanu und Bāhlīka. Devāpi gab das väterliche Reich auf und ging in den Wald; darum wurde Śāntanu König. Śāntanu, der in einem früheren Leben Mahābhiṣa hieß, konnte durch bloße Berührung mit seinen Händen Greise wieder zur Jugend führen.
FAQs
This verse states that Devāpi gave up the hereditary throne and chose forest life, highlighting renunciation and detachment from royal power.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates the dynastic history to King Parīkṣit, describing the sons and their paths.
It teaches that status and inheritance are temporary, and that choosing higher values—self-control, simplicity, and spiritual purpose—can be a noble life-direction.