Shloka 9

Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

जरासन्धः सहदेवः सोमापिश्च श्रुतश्रवाः / अयुतायुर्निरमित्रः सुक्षत्रो बहुकर्मकः

Transliteration

jarāsandhaḥ sahadevaḥ somāpiśca śrutaśravāḥ / ayutāyurniramitraḥ sukṣatro bahukarmakaḥ

Translation

Jarāsandha, Sahadeva, Somāpi und Śrutaśravā; Ayutāyu, Niramitra, Sukṣatra und Bahukarmaka — diese werden der Reihe nach genannt.

Word by Word

• जरासन्धः: Jarāsandha (a name)
• जरासन्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जरा (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जरा-सम्बन्धी सन्धः) नाम

• सहदेवः: Sahadeva (a name)
• सहदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-भाव) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• सोमापिः: Somāpi (a name)
• सोमापिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + आपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सोम-सम्बन्धी आपिः) नाम

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• श्रुतश्रवाः: Śrutaśravā (a name; famed/heard-of)
• श्रुतश्रवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुत (श्रु धातोः क्त; कृदन्त) + श्रवस्/श्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रुतं श्रवो यस्य) नाम; प्रातिपदिक-रूप ‘श्रुतश्रवस्’ का प्रथमा एकवचन ‘श्रुतश्रवाः’

• अयुतायुः: Ayutāyu (a name; having ten-thousand lifespan)
• अयुतायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अयुतं आयुः यस्य) नाम; ‘आयुस्’ प्रातिपदिकस्य प्रथमा एकवचन ‘आयुः’

• निरमित्रः: Niramitra (a name; without enemies)
• निरमित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर् (उपसर्ग) + अमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य अमित्रः नास्ति/निर्-अमित्रः) नाम

• सुक्षत्रः: Sukṣatra (a name)
• सुक्षत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु+क्षत्रः) नाम

• बहुकर्मकः: having many deeds/acts
• बहुकर्मकः: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; विशेषण (many-deeded)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karma unfolds through political power and its consequences; great names remind that might and lifespan (Ayutāyu) still remain within saṃsāra.

Vedantic Theme: Impermanence of worldly sovereignty; karmic causality governing rise and fall of rulers.

Application: Treat power as accountable stewardship; remember that fame and longevity do not exempt one from ethical consequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/janapada

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.8 (transition to Māgadha); Garuda Purana 1.141 (continued Māgadha list beyond this verse)

Characters & Entities

• Jarāsandha
• Sahadeva
• Somāpi
• Śrutaśravā
• Ayutāyu
• Niramitra
• Sukṣatra
• Bahukarmaka

FAQs

What is the importance of naming individuals in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse functions as a textual roster—preserving remembrance of specific figures within a larger narrative or lineage context, a common Purāṇic method for anchoring teachings in recognized names and traditions.

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

This specific shloka does not describe the soul’s journey or after-death states; it is a sequential naming verse, likely part of a broader section where names support a genealogical, historical, or contextual enumeration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cue for careful study: read surrounding verses to understand why these names are cited, and apply the broader lesson (dharma, conduct, or lineage context) rather than isolating the list from its narrative purpose.