Shloka 16
श्रुतो भगीरथाज्जज्ञे तस्य नाभोऽपरोऽभवत् । सिन्धुद्वीपस्ततस्तस्मादयुतायुस्ततोऽभवत् ॥ १६ ॥ ऋतूपर्णो नलसखो योऽश्वविद्यामयान्नलात् । दत्त्वाक्षहृदयं चास्मै सर्वकामस्तु तत्सुतम् ॥ १७ ॥
śruto bhagīrathāj jajñe tasya nābho ’paro ’bhavat sindhudvīpas tatas tasmād ayutāyus tato ’bhavat
Bhagīratha begot a son named Śruta, whose son was Nābha (different from the Nābha mentioned earlier). From Nābha came Sindhudvīpa, from him Ayutāyu, and from him Ṛtūparṇa. Ṛtūparṇa became a friend of King Nala; he taught Nala the secret of dice-play and learned from Nala aśva-vidyā, the art of horses. Ṛtūparṇa’s son was Sarvakāma.
Gambling is also an art. Kṣatriyas are allowed to exhibit talent in this art of gambling. By the grace of Kṛṣṇa, the Pāṇḍavas lost everything by gambling and were deprived of their kingdom, wife, family and home because they were not expert in the gambling art. In other words, a devotee may not be expert in materialistic activities. It is therefore advised in the śāstra that materialistic activities are not at all suitable for the living entities, especially the devotees. A devotee should therefore be satisfied to eat whatever is sent as prasāda by the Supreme Lord. A devotee remains pure because he does not take to sinful activities such as gambling, intoxication, meat-eating and illicit sex.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva lists Bhagīratha’s immediate successors: Śruta, then Nābha, then Sindhudvīpa, and then Ayutāyu.
He is tracing the dynasties of righteous kings to preserve sacred history and show how dharma and devotion flow through royal lineages.
They encourage remembrance of dharmic exemplars and inspire responsibility to carry forward good character and devotion within one’s own family line.