Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

नरो गयस्य तनयस्तत्पुत्रोभुद्विराडगतः / ततो धीमान्महातेजा भौवनस्तस्य चात्मजः

Transliteration

naro gayasya tanayastatputrobhudvirāḍagataḥ / tato dhīmānmahātejā bhauvanastasya cātmajaḥ

Translation

Nara war der Sohn Gayas; sein Sohn war Virāḍāgata. Danach wurde als sein Sohn Bhauvana geboren, weise und von großer Strahlkraft.

Word by Word

• नरः: Nara (proper name)
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गयस्य: of Gaya
• गयस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• तत्पुत्रः: his son
• तत्पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘तस्य पुत्रः’)

• अभूत्: was/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विराट्: Virāṭ (proper name)
• विराट्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (ट्-अन्त)

• अगतः: came/appeared (as)
• अगतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकृदन्त/कर्तरि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘gone/arrived’ (अत्र ‘अभूत्’ इत्यनेन सह—‘became/was’)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana/Sequence (क्रम/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थे (then/from him)

• धीमान्: wise
• धीमान्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (wise)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महत् + तेजस् (कर्मधारय/‘महत्तेजाः’)

• भौवनः: Bhauvana (proper name)
• भौवनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kingship ideal: wisdom (dhī) and splendor/energy (tejas) as dharmic virtues transmitted through lineage.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-guṇa elevation implied by ‘dhīmān’; tejas as disciplined power aligned with dharma.

Application: Cultivate discernment and ethical strength; treat authority as responsibility grounded in wisdom.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.54 (continuing vaṃśa narration)

Characters & Entities

• Nara
• Gaya
• Virāḍāgata
• Bhauvana

FAQs

What is the importance of this lineage (Gaya → Nara → Virāḍāgata → Bhauvana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a specific ancestral succession, a common Purāṇic method for linking sacred places, ritual authority, and dharmic tradition through named descendants.

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

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides genealogical context that often underlies later discussions of pitṛ-related rites (like śrāddha and piṇḍa offerings) connected with revered ancestors and places.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain awareness of ancestry and family duty: honor forebears through ethical living and, where culturally practiced, perform śrāddha with sincerity and correct intention.