Shloka 10

Devanagari script

प्राचीनवहर्स्तेत्पुत्रः पृथिव्यामेकराड् बभौ / उपयेमे समुद्रस्य लवणस्य स वै सुताम्

Transliteration

prācīnavaharstetputraḥ pṛthivyāmekarāḍ babhau / upayeme samudrasya lavaṇasya sa vai sutām

Translation

The son of Prācīnavahar (Prācīnabarhis) became the sole sovereign on the earth. He then married the daughter of the Ocean, the lord of salt-waters.

Word by Word

• प्राचीनवहर्ः: Prācīnavahar (name)
• प्राचीनवहर्ः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचीनवह (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पदान्त-विसर्ग (ḥ)

• तेत्पुत्रः: son of Tet (name)
• तेत्पुत्रः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेत्-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक; तेत् + पुत्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tetasya putraḥ)

• पृथिव्याम्: on earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• एकराट्: sole ruler
• एकराट्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject complement/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-राट् (प्रातिपदिक; एक + राट्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘sole king/one ruler’)

• बभौ: became/was
• बभौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उपयेमे: married
• उपयेमे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; विवाहार्थक-प्रयोगः (‘married’)

• समुद्रस्य: of the ocean
• समुद्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लवणस्य: salty
• लवणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying samudrasya)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• सुताम्: daughter
• सुताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kingship includes forming alliances that stabilize society; householding/royal marriage is framed as a dharmic instrument for continuity and prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Gṛhastha-dharma as a support of social order; harmony of elements (earth–water) as symbolic balance of guṇas in polity.

Application: Build cooperative alliances and institutions; balance power with responsibility; treat relationships as part of ethical governance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: ocean/planetary domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6.11 (birth of the Prācetas from Sāmudrī)

Characters & Entities

• Prācīnavahar (Prācīnabarhis)
• Samudra (Ocean)
• Lavaṇa-samudra (salt ocean)

FAQs

What is the importance of genealogy and royal lineage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses lineage and marriage alliances to situate later teachings within a recognized dharmic history, showing how righteous rule and social order are transmitted through dynasties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: it is part of narrative framing (itihāsa-purāṇa style) that establishes the setting and authority of subsequent dharma and post-death instructions rather than describing the soul’s journey itself.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat duties in family and society as part of dharma—leadership and relationships are portrayed as responsibilities tied to moral order, not merely personal power or preference.