Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

अभवन्दनुपुत्राश्च द्विमूर्धा शङ्करस्तथा / अयोमुखः शङ्कुशिराः कपिलः शम्बरस्तथा

Transliteration

abhavandanuputrāśca dvimūrdhā śaṅkarastathā / ayomukhaḥ śaṅkuśirāḥ kapilaḥ śambarastathā

Translation

And there were also sons of Danu: Abhavandana, Dvimūrdhā, Śaṅkara; likewise Ayomukha, Śaṅkuśirā, Kapila, and Śambara.

Word by Word

• अभवन्: were/became
• अभवन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दनुपुत्राः: sons of Danu
• दनुपुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दनु + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दन्वाः पुत्राः = sons of Danu)

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

• द्विमूर्धा: Dvimūrdhā (two-headed; a name)
• द्विमूर्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वौ मूर्धानौ यस्य = two-headed; as a name)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara (a name)
• शङ्करः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Connector (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अनुक्रम-अव्यय (likewise)

• अयोमुखः: Ayomukha (iron-faced; a name)
• अयोमुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अयसः मुखम्/मुखः = iron-faced; a name)

• शङ्कुशिराः: Śaṅkuśirā (spike-headed; a name)
• शङ्कुशिराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कु + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (शिराः-रूपेण प्रातिपदिक-विशेष); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्कोः शिराः/शिरः = spike-headed; a name)

• कपिलः: Kapila (a name)
• कपिलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शम्बरः: Śambara (a name)
• शम्बरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Connector (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अनुक्रम-अव्यय (likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodiment reflects guṇa and karma: monstrous forms symbolize distorted power and misdirected agency.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-vaśyatā (being driven by qualities) and nāma-rūpa (name-form) as markers within saṃsāra.

Application: Observe how inner tendencies shape outer conduct; restrain tamas/rajas through sāttvika discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6 (continuation of Danu-putra listing)

Characters & Entities

• Danu
• Danavas
• Abhavandana
• Dvimurdha
• Shankara
• Ayomukha
• Shankushira
• Kapila
• Shambara

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Danu's sons in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves Purāṇic genealogies, identifying key Danava lineages that recur in cosmological and mythic narratives across the Garuda Purana and related texts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it situates the narrative within broader Purāṇic cosmology by naming Danava beings who appear in accounts of cosmic conflict and moral order (dharma vs. adharma).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reference for accurate recitation, study, and cross-text comparison when reading Purāṇic cosmology—supporting disciplined learning (svādhyāya) and textual fidelity.