Shloka 6

Devanagari script

सवर्णाधत्त सामुद्री दश प्राचीनबर्हिषः सर्वे प्रचेतसो नाम धनुर्वेदस्य पारगाः

Transliteration

savarṇādhatta sāmudrī daśa prācīnabarhiṣaḥ sarve pracetaso nāma dhanurvedasya pāragāḥ

Translation

From Savarṇā and the ocean-born maiden Sāmudrī, Prācīnabarhis begot ten sons; all were known as the Pracetases, each perfected in the sacred science of the bow.

Word by Word

• सवर्णा: Savarṇā
• सवर्णा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अधत्त: bore; gave birth to
• अधत्त: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सामुद्री: ocean-born (sons)
• सामुद्री: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामुद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्—समुद्रसम्बन्धिनः

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या, अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (numeral: ten)

• प्राचीनबर्हिषः: of Prācīnabarhis
• प्राचीनबर्हिषः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचीन (प्रातिपदिक) + बर्हिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—प्राचीनः बर्हिः यस्य (नामधेय)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्रचेतसः: the Pracetases
• प्रचेतसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle indicating 'by name')

• धनुर्वेदस्य: of the science of archery
• धनुर्वेदस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—धनुषः वेदः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पारगाः: masters; those who have reached the far shore (experts)
• पारगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Progeny and skill (dhanurveda) are to be cultivated as disciplined instruments of dharma under the higher sovereignty of Hari.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat competence and power as accountable to dharma—train rigorously, but subordinate ambition to ethical purpose and reverence.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly order (varṇa/āśrama and royal duty) is meaningful as service within the Lord’s governance, not independent of Him.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Kṣātra-dharma (disciplined martial skill in service of order)

Key Kings: Prācīnabarhis, Savarṇā, Sāmudrī, Pracetāḥ

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Prācīnabarhis
• Savarṇā
• Sāmudrī
• Pracetases (the ten Pracetas)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Pracetases (Pracetas) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse introduces the ten Pracetases as the sons of Prācīnabarhis, marking a key genealogical node; their collective identity and excellence foreshadow their later role in sustaining and shaping royal lineages.

How does Sage Parāśara explain lineage transmission in this passage?

Parāśara presents lineage as a structured unfolding—naming parents and offspring and highlighting their defining competence (Dhanurveda)—showing how sovereign authority is preserved through disciplined, dharmic heirs.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats genealogy and kingship as operating within Vishnu’s supreme governance—where order (dharma) manifests through sanctioned succession and virtuous capability.