Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

काद्रवेयाश्च फणिनः सहस्रममितौजसः / तेषा प्राधाना भूतेश ! शेषवासुकितक्षकाः

Transliteration

kādraveyāśca phaṇinaḥ sahasramamitaujasaḥ / teṣā prādhānā bhūteśa ! śeṣavāsukitakṣakāḥ

Translation

O Lord of beings! The hooded serpents born of Kadru—the Kādraveyas—are a thousand in number and of immeasurable power; among them, the foremost are Śeṣa, Vāsuki, and Takṣaka.

Word by Word

• काद्रवेयाः: Kādraveyas (sons of Kadrū)
• काद्रवेयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काद्रवेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• फणिनः: hooded serpents
• फणिनः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• अमितौजसः: of immeasurable strength
• अमितौजसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमित (प्रातिपदिक) + ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अमितम् ओजः येषां ते)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्राधानाः: the principal/chief
• प्राधानाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (मुख्याः)

• भूतेश: O lord of beings
• भूतेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• शेषवासुकितक्षकाः: Śeṣa, Vāsuki, and Takṣaka
• शेषवासुकितक्षकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक) + वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक) + तक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (शेषश्च वासुकिश्च तक्षकश्च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hierarchy within a class of beings; certain powers serve cosmic functions (Śeṣa as support, Vāsuki as churning-rope, Takṣaka as potent nāga).

Vedantic Theme: Cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) expressed as graded powers within creation.

Application: Acknowledge leadership/responsibility within groups; cultivate ‘foremost’ qualities—steadiness (Śeṣa), service (Vāsuki), disciplined power (Takṣaka).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: netherworld region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6 (Kadru’s progeny; nāga lists continue)

Characters & Entities

• Kadru
• Nāgas (serpents)
• Shesha (Ananta)
• Vasuki
• Takshaka

FAQs

What is the importance of the Nāgas (serpents) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the Nāgas as a powerful lineage descended from Kadru, identifying their chief figures—Śeṣa, Vāsuki, and Takṣaka—who recur across Purāṇic cosmology and sacred narratives.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it situates the Garuda Purana’s broader cosmological framework by naming major beings (Nāga chiefs) within creation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reference for accurate recitation, study, and digital cataloging of Purāṇic lineages—especially when researching Śeṣa/Ananta, Vāsuki, or Takṣaka in Hindu cosmology.