Shloka 39

Matsya Purana — Paurava Genealogy

Devanagari script

देवापिः शंतनुश्चैव वाह्लीकश्चैव ते त्रयः वाह्लीकस्य तु दायादाः सप्त वाह्लीश्वरा नृपाः देवापिस्तु ह्य् अपध्यातः प्रजाभिरभवन्मुनिः //

Transliteration

devāpiḥ śaṃtanuścaiva vāhlīkaścaiva te trayaḥ vāhlīkasya tu dāyādāḥ sapta vāhlīśvarā nṛpāḥ devāpistu hy apadhyātaḥ prajābhirabhavanmuniḥ //

Translation

These three were Devāpi, Śaṃtanu, and Vāhlīka. From Vāhlīka arose heirs—seven kings known as the Vāhlīśvaras. But Devāpi, having been set aside by the people, became a sage (muni).

Word by Word

• देवापिः (devāpiḥ): Devāpi

• शंतनुः (śaṃtanuḥ): Śaṃtanu

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• वाह्लीकः (vāhlīkaḥ): Vāhlīka

• ते (te): those

• त्रयः (trayaḥ): three

• वाह्लीकस्य (vāhlīkasya): of Vāhlīka

• तु (tu): however

• दायादाः (dāyādāḥ): heirs/descendants

• सप्त (sapta): seven

• वाह्लीश्वरा (vāhlīśvarāḥ): “lords of Vāhlī” (a royal designation)

• नृपाः (nṛpāḥ): kings

• देवापिः तु (devāpiḥ tu): but Devāpi

• हि (hi): indeed

• अपध्यातः (apadhyātaḥ): neglected/put aside/not chosen

• प्रजाभिः (prajābhiḥ): by the subjects/people

• अभवत् (abhavat): became

• मुनिः (muniḥ): a sage

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (Vishnu) instructing Vaivasvata Manu (genealogical narration context)

Entities Mentioned

• Devāpi
• Śaṃtanu
• Vāhlīka
• Vāhlīśvaras

Tags

• Dynasties
• Genealogy
• Kingship
• Lineages
• Puranic History

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not discuss Pralaya; it records royal genealogy, naming Devāpi, Śaṃtanu, and Vāhlīka, and noting the succession of Vāhlīka’s descendants.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It implies that kingship depends on public acceptance and succession: Devāpi, being set aside by the people, does not rule and instead becomes a muni—suggesting that rulership requires recognition and that renunciation is a legitimate dharmic path when sovereignty is not assumed.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vāstu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is mentioned; the passage is purely genealogical, focusing on lineage and the status of rulers.