Shloka 21
Nimi’s Disembodied Liberation and the Rise of the Mithilā (Videha) Dynasty
कृतध्वजात् केशिध्वज: खाण्डिक्यस्तु मितध्वजात् । कृतध्वजसुतो राजन्नात्मविद्याविशारद: ॥ २० ॥ खाण्डिक्य: कर्मतत्त्वज्ञो भीत: केशिध्वजाद्द्रुत: । भानुमांस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभूच्छतद्युम्नस्तु तत्सुत: ॥ २१ ॥
kṛtadhvajāt keśidhvajaḥ khāṇḍikyas tu mitadhvajāt kṛtadhvaja-suto rājann ātma-vidyā-viśāradaḥ
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, from Kṛtadhvaja was born Keśidhvaja, and from Mitadhvaja was born Khāṇḍikya. Kṛtadhvaja’s son was learned in spiritual knowledge, while Khāṇḍikya knew the truth of Vedic ritual works; fearing Keśidhvaja, he fled. Keśidhvaja’s son was Bhānumān, and Bhānumān’s son was Śatadyumna.
FAQs
Keśidhvaja is described as the son of Kṛtadhvaja and is praised as an expert in ātma-vidyā (spiritual knowledge of the self).
Śukadeva is narrating genealogies and spiritual qualities of kings to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, so he directly addresses him as 'O King' while highlighting exemplary rulers.
It points to becoming skilled in self-knowledge—seeing oneself as distinct from the body and acting with dharma and devotion rather than mere worldly identity.