Shloka 17

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

Sūryavaṁśa Genealogy

Devanagari script

नाभागपुत्रो नेष्ठो ह्यम्बरीषो ऽपि तत्सुतः / अम्बरीषाद्विरूपो ऽभूत्पृषदश्वो विरूपतः

Transliteration

nābhāgaputro neṣṭho hyambarīṣo 'pi tatsutaḥ / ambarīṣādvirūpo 'bhūtpṛṣadaśvo virūpataḥ

Translation

Aus Nābhāga wurde Neṣṭha geboren; aus ihm sein Sohn Ambarīṣa. Aus Ambarīṣa wurde Virūpa geboren, und aus Virūpa Pṛṣadaśva.

Word by Word

• नाभागपुत्रः: son of Nābhāga
• नाभागपुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभाग (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नाभागस्य पुत्रः)

• नेष्ठः: Neṣṭha
• नेष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal)

• अम्बरीषः: Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; ‘also’)

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

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अम्बरीषात्: from Ambarīṣa
• अम्बरीषात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; from Ambarīṣa

• विरूपः: Virūpa
• विरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• पृषदश्वः: Pṛṣadaśva
• पृषदश्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृषदश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पृषत्/पृषद् + अश्व) (नाम)

• विरूपतः: from Virūpa
• विरूपतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) = ‘from Virūpa’

Speaker

Sūta/Narrator (genealogical recital within the Purāṇic narration; not a Vishnu–Garuda dialogue verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma expressed through birth in particular lineages; continuity of responsibility across generations.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as a stream of births shaped by guṇa and karma; individuality transient, causal continuity persists.

Application: Reflect on inherited tendencies and responsibilities; act so that one’s ‘line’ (family/community) is uplifted by conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dynastic lineage (non-localized)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.138 (continuation of vaṃśa lists: Nābhāga → Neṣṭha → Ambarīṣa → Virūpa → Pṛṣadaśva)

Characters & Entities

• Nābhāga
• Neṣṭha
• Ambarīṣa
• Virūpa
• Pṛṣadaśva

FAQs

What is the importance of genealogies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves dynastic succession—linking rulers through an unbroken lineage used to contextualize dharma, royal duty, and Purāṇic history.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it situates the narrative in sacred history by listing ancestors and descendants in a royal line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights the value of remembering one’s lineage and responsibilities—encouraging continuity of dharma, gratitude to ancestors, and ethical conduct that honors one’s family line.