Shloka 1
श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच पूरोर्वंशं प्रवक्ष्यामि यत्र जातोऽसि भारत । यत्र राजर्षयो वंश्या ब्रह्मवंश्याश्च जज्ञिरे ॥ १ ॥
śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca pūror vaṁśaṁ pravakṣyāmi yatra jāto ’si bhārata yatra rājarṣayo vaṁśyā brahma-vaṁśyāś ca jajñire
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, descendant of Bharata, I shall now describe the dynasty of Pūru, in which you were born—where many saintly kings (rājarṣis) appeared, and from which many brāhmaṇa lineages also began.
There are many historical instances by which we can understand that from kṣatriyas many brāhmaṇas have been born and that from brāhmaṇas many kṣatriyas have been born. The Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.13) , cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ: “According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me.” Therefore, regardless of the family in which one takes birth, when one is qualified with the symptoms of a particular section, he is to be described accordingly. Yal-lakṣaṇaṁ proktam. One’s place in the varṇa divisions of society is determined according to one’s symptoms or qualities. This is maintained everywhere in the śāstra. Birth is a secondary consideration; the first consideration is one’s qualities and activities.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva announces he will narrate the Puru dynasty—an illustrious lineage in which Parīkṣit (addressed as Bhārata) was born and from which many saintly kings arose.
Śukadeva links the upcoming genealogy to Parīkṣit’s own heritage, making the narration personally relevant and highlighting the sacred responsibility and dharmic legacy carried by that dynasty.
The verse encourages seeing one’s heritage and identity through dharma—valuing character, saintliness, and responsibility over mere power or status.