Shloka 17

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

दक्षपुत्रसहस्रं च तेषु नष्टेषु सृष्टवान् / शवलाश्वास्ते ऽपि गता भ्रातॄणां पदवीं हर !

Transliteration

dakṣaputrasahasraṃ ca teṣu naṣṭeṣu sṛṣṭavān / śavalāśvāste 'pi gatā bhrātṝṇāṃ padavīṃ hara !

Translation

Dakṣa created a thousand sons; when they were lost, he created others. Those Śavalāśvas too went along the very path taken by their brothers, O Hara (Śiva).

Word by Word

• दक्षपुत्रसहस्रम्: a thousand sons of Dakṣa
• दक्षपुत्रसहस्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दक्षस्य पुत्राणां सहस्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तेषु: among them / in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• नष्टेषु: when (they were) destroyed / lost
• नष्टेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √नश् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• सृष्टवान्: (he) created
• सृष्टवान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सृज् (धातु) + क्तवतु (कृदन्त)
• Form: कर्तरि क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृत्य-भाव (having created)

• शवलाश्वाः: the Śavalāśvas (dapple-horses, a group)
• शवलाश्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शवल (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (शवलाः अश्वाः)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

• गताः: went
• गताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) कर्तरि; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्रियाविशेष-भाव (have gone)

• भ्रातॄणाम्: of (their) brothers
• भ्रातॄणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• पदवीम्: the path/track
• पदवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• हर: O Hara, (please) take away / remove
• हर: Sambodhana (Addressed/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, with an address to Hara within the verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Repetition of outcomes when the same impulse/choice is followed; progeny follow the precedent set by elders.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃsāra as recurring pattern driven by saṃskāra; recognition of causality (kārya-kāraṇa-bhāva).

Application: Attend to the ‘path’ one sets in family/community; correct harmful patterns early rather than reproducing them.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6.18-1.6.20 (Dakṣa’s anger/curse; lesson on enmity)

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Shavalashvas
• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of Daksha’s sons (Śavalāśvas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how even newly created progeny can choose the same renunciant path as their predecessors, emphasizing detachment and the power of spiritual inclination over mere lineage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to the idea of ‘following a path’ (padavī)—here, the brothers’ course—mirroring how beings follow prior tendencies and chosen spiritual directions rather than only worldly duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not assume outcomes through external planning alone; cultivate discernment and dharma, and accept that sincere spiritual aspiration can outweigh purely material goals.