Shloka 1

Śrī Rāmacandra-avatāra — Vow, Exile, Laṅkā-vijaya, and Rāma-rājya

Concise Bhāgavata Account

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच खट्‍वाङ्गाद् दीर्घबाहुश्च रघुस्तस्मात् पृथुश्रवा: । अजस्ततो महाराजस्तस्माद् दशरथोऽभवत् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca khaṭvāṅgād dīrghabāhuś ca raghus tasmāt pṛthu-śravāḥ ajas tato mahā-rājas tasmād daśaratho ’bhavat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The son of King Khaṭvāṅga was Dīrghabāhu, whose son was the celebrated King Raghu. From Raghu came Aja, and from Aja was born the great King Daśaratha.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘śrīmān śukaḥ’ (honorific epithet)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्; धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• khaṭvāṅgāt: from Khaṭvāṅga
• khaṭvāṅgāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṭvāṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• dīrghabāhuḥ: Dīrghabāhu (long-armed one)
• dīrghabāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (next king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīrgha (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘one whose arms are long’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); conjunction (समुच्चय)

• raghuḥ: Raghu
• raghuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmāt: from him
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); ‘from him’

• pṛthuśravāḥ: Pṛthuśravā
• pṛthuśravāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthu (प्रातिपदिक) + śravas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘one of broad fame/renown’

• ajaḥ: Aja
• ajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय/तस्मात्-प्रभव)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘thereafter/from him’

• mahārājaḥ: the great king
• mahārājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: ‘great king’

• tasmāt: from him
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• daśarathaḥ: Daśaratha
• daśarathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśaratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhavat: was born/appeared
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू; धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (लङ्, Imperfect/Past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Khaṭvāṅga
• Dīrghabāhu
• Raghu
• Pṛthuśravā
• Aja
• Daśaratha

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about the lineage of King Daśaratha?

This verse lists Daśaratha’s forefathers in the solar dynasty: Khaṭvāṅga → Dīrghabāhu → Raghu → Pṛthuśravā → Aja → Daśaratha.

Why is Raghu mentioned in Bhagavatam Canto 9 Chapter 10?

Raghu is named to establish the celebrated Raghu dynasty (Raghu-vaṁśa), the royal line in which King Daśaratha appears and in which Lord Rāma later manifests.

How can devotees apply this shloka’s message in modern life?

It highlights the importance of honorable lineage and responsibility—encouraging one to live so that one’s actions elevate family, community, and dharma through integrity and devotion.