Shloka 59

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

Sūryavaṁśa Genealogy

Devanagari script

सुनयाद्वीतहव्यस्तु वीतहव्याद्धतिः स्मृतः / बहुलाश्वो धृतेः पुत्रो बहुलाश्वात्कृतिः स्मृतः

Transliteration

sunayādvītahavyastu vītahavyāddhatiḥ smṛtaḥ / bahulāśvo dhṛteḥ putro bahulāśvātkṛtiḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

Aus Sunayā wurde Vītahavya geboren; aus Vītahavya wird Dhati überliefert. Bahulāśva war der Sohn der Dhṛti; und aus Bahulāśva wird Kṛti überliefert.

Word by Word

• सुनयात्: from Sunayā
• सुनयात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• वीतहव्यः: Vītahavya
• वीतहव्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीतहव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे

• वीतहव्यात्: from Vītahavya
• वीतहव्यात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीतहव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• धतिः: Dhati
• धतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक-कर्तरि प्रयोगे), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘स्मृत’ = ‘said/remembered/called’

• बहुलाश्वः: Bahulāśva
• बहुलाश्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुलाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धृतेः: of Dhṛti
• धृतेः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

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

• बहुलाश्वात्: from Bahulāśva
• बहुलाश्वात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहुलाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• कृतिः: Kṛti
• कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणरूपेण

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaṃśa-smaraṇa (remembering lineage) as a dharmic frame for kingship and social order.

Vedantic Theme: Smṛti as a vehicle for dharma; identity situated in pravṛtti (worldly order) rather than nivṛtti.

Application: Use lineage/ancestral remembrance to contextualize duties (svadharma), especially in rites, inheritance, and ethical self-understanding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.138 (preceding solar-line genealogy context); Garuda Purana 1.139 (transition to somavaṃśa)

Characters & Entities

• Sunayā
• Vītahavya
• Dhati
• Dhṛti
• Bahulāśva
• Kṛti

FAQs

What is the importance of genealogy (vaṁśāvalī) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse exemplifies the Purāṇic method of preserving dharmic history by recording successive generations, helping transmit cultural memory and the continuity of righteous lineages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to a genealogical section that lists descendants, emphasizing continuity of family lines rather than afterlife doctrine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain accurate family/ancestral records and honor lineage responsibly—living ethically so one’s name is “remembered” (smṛtaḥ) with respect, as these ancestors are.