Shloka 38

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

Devanagari script

पुलहस्य गतिर्भार्या त्रीनसूत सती सुतान् । कर्मश्रेष्ठं वरीयांसं सहिष्णुं च महामते ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

pulahasya gatir bhāryā trīn asūta satī sutān karmaśreṣṭhaṁ varīyāṁsaṁ sahiṣṇuṁ ca mahā-mate

Translation

Gati, the wife of the sage Pulaha, gave birth to three saintly sons—Karmaśreṣṭha, Varīyān, and Sahiṣṇu—and all of them were great sages of lofty wisdom.

Synonyms

• पुलहस्य: of Pulaha
• पुलहस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• गतिः: Gati (name)
• गतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: समनाधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समनाधिकरण (wife = Gati)

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural); संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• असूत: gave birth
• असूत: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• सती: virtuous/chaste
• सती: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (धातु) + ई (कृत्/प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta) वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ-प्रत्ययार्थक स्त्रीरूप (present participle-like adjective) 'being/virtuous'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कर्मश्रेष्ठम्: Karmaśreṣṭha (best in action)
• कर्मश्रेष्ठम्: कर्म (Object; name of son)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: कर्मणि/कर्मसु श्रेष्ठः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (proper name)

• वरीयांसम्: Varīyānsa (the superior)
• वरीयांसम्: कर्म (Object; name of son)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तुलनात्मक (comparative) used as name

• सहिष्णुम्: Sahiṣṇu (the tolerant)
• सहिष्णुम्: कर्म (Object; name of son)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सह् (धातु) + इष्णु (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta) इष्णु-प्रत्ययान्त (tolerant/enduring); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); नाम (proper name)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: महा (great) + मति (intellect); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Purport

Gati, the wife of Pulaha, was the fifth daughter of Kardama Muni. She was very faithful to her husband, and all her sons were as good as he.

Characters & Entities

• Pulaha
• Gati
• Karmaśreṣṭha
• Varīyān
• Sahiṣṇu

FAQs

Who are the sons of Pulaha mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.1.38?

This verse states that Pulaha’s wife Gati gave birth to three sons: Karmaśreṣṭha, Varīyān, and Sahiṣṇu.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe genealogies in Canto 4 of the Bhagavata Purana?

In this section Śukadeva outlines the descendants of great sages and Prajāpatis to map creation-era lineages and show how dharma and devotional culture flow through sacred families.

What is a practical takeaway from Bhagavatam 4.1.38 for modern life?

The verse highlights the value of chastity, responsibility, and good progeny—reminding readers to cultivate character and pass on dharmic values through family and community.