Shloka 4

Yayāti’s Summons to Heaven and the Teaching on Old Age, the Five-Element Body, and Self–Body Discernment

Devanagari script

सोमवंशात्प्रभूतो हि नहुषो मेदिनीपतिः । दानधर्माननेकांश्च चका रह्यतुलानपि

Transliteration

somavaṃśātprabhūto hi nahuṣo medinīpatiḥ | dānadharmānanekāṃśca cakā rahyatulānapi

Translation

Wahrlich, aus der Monddynastie ging Nahusha hervor, der Herr der Erde; und er vollbrachte viele Taten der Wohltätigkeit und des Dharma, auch dem Maße nach unvergleichlich.

Word by Word

• सोमवंशात्: from the Soma dynasty
• सोमवंशात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोमवंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सोमस्य वंशः)

• प्रभूतः: born/produced
• प्रभूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रभूत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √भू धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अर्थे—खलु/नूनम् (indeed)

• नहुषः: Nahuṣa
• नहुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मेदिनीपतिः: lord of the earth (king)
• मेदिनीपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेदिनी + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मेदिन्याः पतिः)

• दानधर्मान्: charities and righteous duties
• दानधर्मान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (दानाश्च धर्माश्च)

• अनेकान्: many
• अनेकान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying दानधर्मान्)

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

• चकार: performed/did
• चकार: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रह्यतुलान्: incomparable gifts/offerings (rahya)
• रह्यतुलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रह्य + अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अतुलाः रह्याः)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अर्थे—अपि/also/even

Speaker

Unspecified narrator (contextual puranic narration within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सोमवंशात्प्रभूतः = सोमवंशात् + प्रभूतः; दानधर्माननेकांश्च = दानधर्मान् + अनेकान् + च; चका रह्यतुलानपि = चकार + रह्यतुलान् + अपि (पाठे ‘चका’ इति संधि/लोप-रूपम्)

Characters & Entities

• Nahusha
• Soma-vamsha (Lunar dynasty)

FAQs

Who is Nahusha in this verse of the Padma Purana?

Nahusha is presented as a king (medinīpati) born in the Lunar dynasty (Somavaṃśa), remembered here for exemplary charity (dāna) and righteousness (dharma).

What ethical ideal does the verse highlight for rulers?

It emphasizes that true kingship is validated by sustained practice of dāna (generosity) and dharma (moral governance), described as ‘incomparable’ (atulān).

How is the Somavaṃśa (Lunar dynasty) used in Purāṇic storytelling here?

The dynasty functions as a legitimizing genealogical frame, linking a ruler’s authority and reputation to an established sacred lineage while spotlighting virtues expected of that line.