Shloka 3

Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

पारिप्लवश्च मुनयो मेधावी च नृपञ्जयः / बृहद्रथो हरिस्तिग्मो शतानीकः सुदानकः

Transliteration

pāriplavaśca munayo medhāvī ca nṛpañjayaḥ / bṛhadratho haristigmo śatānīkaḥ sudānakaḥ

Translation

Pariplava and Munaya; Medhāvī and Nṛpañjaya; also Bṛhadratha, Haristigma, Śatānīka, and Sudānaka—these are the names spoken of.

Word by Word

• पारिप्लवः: Pāriplava (proper name)
• पारिप्लवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मेधावी: Medhāvī (proper name)
• मेधावी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक) + विनि/ई (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• नृपञ्जयः: Nṛpañjaya (proper name)
• नृपञ्जयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नृपान् जयति इति)

• बृहद्रथः: Bṛhadratha (proper name)
• बृहद्रथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बृहन् रथः यस्य/बृहद्रथ इति नाम)

• हरिः: Hari (proper name)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तिग्मः: Tigma (proper name)
• तिग्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिग्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नामरूपेण)

• शतानीकः: Śatānīka (proper name)
• शतानीकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतानीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शत + अनीक)

• सुदानकः: Sudānaka (proper name)
• सुदानकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सु-दानक इति नाम)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in the Garuda Purana’s standard narrative frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rulers arise and pass according to karma and kāla; fame is contingent, duty is central.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāla nexus governing embodied roles; detachment from name-based identity.

Application: Do one’s svadharma without attachment to recognition; measure success by righteousness, not renown.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.1-2 (same catalogue); Garuda Purana 1.141.4 (continuation and social note)

Characters & Entities

• Pariplava
• Munaya
• Medhāvī
• Nṛpañjaya
• Bṛhadratha
• Haristigma
• Śatānīka
• Sudānaka

FAQs

What is the importance of name-lists like this in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog of revered figures (kings/sages), preserving lineage-memory and anchoring teachings within a recognized traditional history.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s journey; it is a nominative listing of persons, likely part of a broader contextual section where exemplars or lineages are being referenced.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to study context carefully in scripture: some verses transmit doctrine, while others preserve names, lineages, and cultural memory integral to the text’s continuity.