Shloka 13

Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage

Devanagari script

केतुमालो नृपस्तेभ्यस्तत्संज्ञान् खण्डकान्ददौ / नाभेस्तु मेरुदेव्यां तु पुत्रो ऽभूदृषभो हर

Transliteration

ketumālo nṛpastebhyastatsaṃjñān khaṇḍakāndadau / nābhestu merudevyāṃ tu putro 'bhūdṛṣabho hara

Translation

König Ketumāla verlieh ihnen die Landesteile, die eben diese Namen trugen. Und Nābhi wurde von Merudevī ein Sohn geboren—Ṛṣabha, o Hara.

Word by Word

• केतुमालः: Ketumāla (name)
• केतुमालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नृपः: king
• नृपः: Apposition (Same-subject/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तत्संज्ञान्: bearing those names
• तत्संज्ञान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुष (तत्-संज्ञान् = 'having those names')

• खण्डकान्: divisions/sections (khaṇḍas)
• खण्डकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• नाभेः: of Nābhi
• नाभेः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle/but/indeed)

• मेरुदेव्याम्: in/through Merudevī (as mother)
• मेरुदेव्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरुदेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

• अभूत्: was born/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha (name)
• ऋषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हर: O Hara
• हर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Righteous kingship includes orderly distribution/administration of territories; dynastic continuity is portrayed as divinely aligned.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as sustaining order (loka-saṅgraha) within the manifest world.

Application: In leadership roles, prioritize fair allocation of responsibilities/resources; honor family duties while recognizing higher purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal/territorial divisions within mythic geography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54.14 (Bharata at Śālagrāma; lineage continues)

Characters & Entities

• Ketumāla
• Nābhi
• Merudevī
• Ṛṣabha
• Hara (addressed)

FAQs

What is the importance of King Ketumāla giving ‘khaṇḍas’ in the Garuda Purana?

It signals the orderly division of realms/territories in the Purāṇic world-view, linking named regions to rulers and lineages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a genealogical and cosmographic narration establishing sacred lineages and regions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages respect for dharmic order—responsible governance, proper stewardship of one’s domain, and honoring lineage/heritage with ethical conduct.