Shloka 1

Names of Priyavrata’s Sons; Division of the Seven Continents; Sapta-dvīpa and Meru Description; Nābhi–Ṛṣabha–Bharata Lineage

Devanagari script

नाम त्रिपञ्चाशत्तमो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / अग्नीध्रश्चाग्निबाहुश्च बपुष्मान्ध्युतिमांस्तथा / मेधामेधातिथिर्भव्यः शबलः पुत्र एव च

Transliteration

nāma tripañcāśattamo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / agnīdhraścāgnibāhuśca bapuṣmāndhyutimāṃstathā / medhāmedhātithirbhavyaḥ śabalaḥ putra eva ca

Translation

Chapter Fifty-Four (Names). Hari said: “They are Agnīdhra, and also Agnibāhu; likewise Bapuṣmān and Dhyutimān; Medhā, Medhātithi, Bhavya, and Śabala—these too are the sons.”

Word by Word

• nāma: namely
• nāma: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (quotative/‘namely’)

• tri-pañcāśattamaḥ: fifty-third
• tri-pañcāśattamaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक) + tama (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण; समासः—द्विगु (tri-pañcāśat = 53)

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• agnīdhraḥ: Agnīdhra
• agnīdhraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agnīdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन (नाम)

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

• agnibāhuḥ: Agnibāhu
• agnibāhuḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम); समासः—तत्पुरुष (agnir iva bāhuḥ / agni-bāhu)

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

• bapuṣmān: Bapuṣmān
• bapuṣmān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bapuṣmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• dhyutimān: Dhyutimān
• dhyutimān: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyutimat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also/likewise)

• medhā: Medhā
• medhā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• medhātithiḥ: Medhātithi
• medhātithiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक) + atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम); समासः—तत्पुरुष

• bhavyaḥ: Bhavya
• bhavyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• śabalaḥ: Śabala
• śabalaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabala (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नाम)

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

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

Speaker

Hari (Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Genealogical order underpins cosmic administration; naming preserves dharmic memory and legitimacy of rulership.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of world-order) through righteous lineage and appointed roles.

Application: Honor responsibilities within one’s station; preserve accurate transmission of knowledge (names, lineages, roles) as part of dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: continent/dvipa (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Priyavrata narrative and division of dvipas in adjacent verses (1.54.2–1.54.3)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Agnīdhra
• Agnibāhu
• Bapuṣmān
• Dhyutimān
• Medhā
• Medhātithi
• Bhavya
• Śabala

FAQs

What is the importance of listing names and lineages in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a genealogical/identificatory record, preserving Puranic lineages and sacred names that anchor later narratives and teachings in an authoritative tradition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s journey or afterlife doctrines; it is a names-and-lineage statement spoken by Hari within a chapter focused on enumerations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it for accurate citation, study, and recitation: keeping correct names and readings supports faithful transmission of the text and helps contextualize related Puranic teachings.