Shloka 19

Devanagari script

तेभ्यः स्वधा सुते जज्ञे मेनां वै धारिणीं तथा ते उभे ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ योगिन्यौ चाप्य् उभे द्विज

Transliteration

tebhyaḥ svadhā sute jajñe menāṃ vai dhāriṇīṃ tathā te ubhe brahmavādinyau yoginyau cāpy ubhe dvija

Translation

From them were born the daughters Svadhā, Menā, and also Dhāriṇī. O twice-born, they were proclaimers of Brahman and yoginīs, steadfast in sacred discipline.

Word by Word

• तेभ्यः: to/for/from them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana/Apadana (Recipient/Source; context-dependent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया/चतुर्थी (3rd/4th case), बहुवचन (plural) — सर्वनाम-रूप

• स्वधा: Svadhā (name)
• स्वधा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)

• सुते: two daughters
• सुते: Karta (Subject; in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/संबोधन (1st/vocative), द्विवचन (dual)

• जज्ञे: was born / gave birth (arose)
• जज्ञे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद

• मेनाम्: Menā (name)
• मेनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — अवधान/निश्चयार्थ

• धारिणीम्: bearing/sustaining (one)
• धारिणीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of मेनाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular) — विशेषण

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ते: those two (fem.)
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — सर्वनाम-रूप

• उभे: both
• उभे: Visheshana (Qualifier of ते)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — विशेषण

• ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ: two expounders of Brahman
• ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + वादिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि वादिनी)

• योगिन्यौ: two yoginīs
• योगिन्यौ: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — अप्यर्थ/समुच्चय

• उभे: both
• उभे: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — विशेषण (पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ)

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th case), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Creation-era progeny and the propagation of beings through Dakṣa’s daughters.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True excellence is marked by brahma-jñāna and steady yoga, even within genealogical/cosmic narratives.

Vedantic Theme: Atman

Application: Cultivate study of Vedānta and daily contemplative discipline alongside worldly duties.

Vishishtadvaita: Jñāna and yoga are meaningful as disciplines within embodied life, oriented toward the Supreme who is known through brahma-vidyā.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Brahmavāda and yogic discipline as exemplary feminine dharma (brahmavādinī, yoginī).

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Svadhā
• Menā
• Dhāriṇī
• Brahman
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of describing these women as brahmavādinī and yoginī in the Vishnu Purana?

It signals that spiritual authority and realization (Brahman-knowledge and yogic discipline) are recognized within the genealogical narrative, not limited to male sages.

How does Sage Parāśara explain lineage and spiritual status together in this passage?

He lists progeny (Svadhā, Menā, Dhāriṇī) while simultaneously qualifying them as teachers of Brahman and yoginīs, linking birth-lineage with inner attainment.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s genealogies function within Vishnu’s sovereign cosmic order—where creation, progeny, and dharmic qualities unfold under the Supreme Reality.