Shloka 14

Dynasties of Kings: From Manu to Ikṣvāku, Śrī Rāma, and Janaka

Sūryavaṁśa Genealogy

Devanagari script

कृशाश्वात्सोमदत्तस्तुततो ऽभूज्जनमेजयः / तत्पुत्रश्च सुमन्तिश्च एते वैशालका नृपाः

Transliteration

kṛśāśvātsomadattastutato 'bhūjjanamejayaḥ / tatputraśca sumantiśca ete vaiśālakā nṛpāḥ

Translation

Aus Kṛśāśva ging Somadatta hervor; aus ihm wurde Janamejaya geboren. Sein Sohn war Sumanti—dies waren die Könige von Vaiśālaka.

Word by Word

• कृशाश्वात्: from Kṛśāśva
• कृशाश्वात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृशाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; from Kṛśāśva

• सोमदत्तः: Somadatta
• सोमदत्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सोमस्य दत्तः)

• तुततः: from Tutata
• तुततः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; from Tutata

• अभूत्: became/was born
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘became/was’

• जनमेजयः: Janamejaya
• जनमेजयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनमेजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (जनं मेजयति इति/जन-मे-जय) (नाम)

• तत्: his/that
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of him/that’ (in compound sense with पुत्रः)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुमन्तिः: Sumanti
• सुमन्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमन्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun used substantively

• वैशालकाः: of Vaiśālaka lineage/related to Vaiśālaka
• वैशालकाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैशालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjectival (gentilic)

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smṛti of lineage (vaṃśānucarita) as a support for dharma, legitimacy, and cultural memory.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa continuity within saṃsāra; the impermanence of individuals contrasted with continuity of dharmic order.

Application: Use genealogical remembrance to contextualize vows, rituals, and duties; cultivate humility by seeing oneself as a link in a larger chain.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: janapada/royal lineage region (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.138 (vaṃśa/solar-lunar genealogical catalog context)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛśāśva
• Somadatta
• Janamejaya
• Sumanti
• Vaiśālaka (dynastic/geographical designation)

FAQs

What is the importance of genealogies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves dynastic succession (Kṛśāśva → Somadatta → Janamejaya → Sumanti), a common Purāṇic method for linking moral-religious teaching to recognized royal lineages and historical memory.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; it functions as a genealogical notice within the narrative structure of the text, naming rulers connected with the Vaiśālaka line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder of continuity and responsibility: one’s actions contribute to a lineage—family, community, or tradition—so live in a way that strengthens and dignifies that continuity.