Shloka 1

Devanagari script

प्रियव्रतोत्तानपादौ मनोः स्वायम्भुवस्य तु द्वौ पुत्रौ सुमहावीर्यौ धर्मज्ञौ कथितौ तव

Transliteration

priyavratottānapādau manoḥ svāyambhuvasya tu dvau putrau sumahāvīryau dharmajñau kathitau tava

Translation

I have already spoken to you of the two sons of Svāyambhuva Manu—Priyavrata and Uttānapāda—both of great heroism and well-versed in dharma.

Word by Word

• प्रियव्रत-उत्तानपादौ: Priyavrata and Uttānapāda
• प्रियव्रत-उत्तानपादौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियव्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तानपाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — द्वन्द्व-समासः (प्रियव्रतश्च उत्तानपादश्च)

• मनोः: of Manu
• मनोः: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (singular)

• स्वायम्भुवस्य: Svāyambhuva (self-born)
• स्वायम्भुवस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier of मनोः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वायम्भुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (singular) — विशेषण (मनु-विशेषण)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अनुवादबोधक (particle)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Visheshana (Qualifier of पुत्रौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• पुत्रौ: sons
• पुत्रौ: Karta (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual)

• सुमहावीर्यौ: of very great prowess
• सुमहावीर्यौ: Visheshana (Qualifier of पुत्रौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + महा + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — विशेषण; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (सु-महा-वीर्य)

• धर्मज्ञौ: knowers of dharma
• धर्मज्ञौ: Visheshana (Qualifier of पुत्रौ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (धर्मं जानाति)

• कथितौ: have been described
• कथितौ: Karta (Predicate; ‘have been described’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथ् (धातु) + त (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन (dual) — भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• तव: to you / of you
• तव: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/Dative of reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (singular) — सर्वनाम-रूप

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation from creation/progeny lists into Manu’s lineage and royal progenitors (Priyavrata, Uttānapāda).

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ideal kingship is grounded in dharma-jñāna and strength, establishing social order within the manvantara.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise leadership (family/work/community) with principled discernment and disciplined courage rather than impulse.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly governance is not outside spirituality; it becomes a mode of serving the divine order sustained by Nārāyaṇa.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Dharma-jñatā (steadfast understanding of dharma) and vīrya (heroic capacity) in rulership.

Key Kings: Svāyambhuva Manu, Priyavrata, Uttānapāda

Characters & Entities

• Svāyambhuva Manu
• Priyavrata
• Uttānapāda

FAQs

What is the significance of Svāyambhuva Manu’s sons in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse signals the transition into dynastic narration: Priyavrata and Uttānapāda are presented as key progenitors through whom righteous kingship and lineage-based cosmic order unfold in the Manvantara.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the genealogy for Maitreya here?

Parāśara reminds Maitreya that he has already introduced Manu’s two sons and highlights their qualities—valor and knowledge of dharma—before continuing the broader lineage narrative.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s genealogies function within Vishnu’s sovereign cosmic governance: dharma-informed rulers sustain the world-order that ultimately rests on the Supreme Reality, Vishnu.