Shloka 117

Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies

Devanagari script

प्रत्यूषस्य विदुः पुत्रं ऋषिं नाम्ना तु देवलम् द्वौ पुत्रौ देवलस्यापि क्षमावन्तौ मनीषिणौ

Transliteration

pratyūṣasya viduḥ putraṃ ṛṣiṃ nāmnā tu devalam dvau putrau devalasyāpi kṣamāvantau manīṣiṇau

Translation

They know that Pratyūṣa had a son—a sage named Devala. Devala too had two sons, both forbearing in temper and wise in understanding.

Word by Word

• प्रत्यूषस्य: of Pratyūṣa
• प्रत्यूषस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्यूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Pratyūṣa)

• विदुः: they know/they state
• विदुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person) बहुवचन; ‘they know/they say’

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• ऋषिम्: a sage
• ऋषिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन; पुत्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन (as ‘a sage’)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया) एकवचन; करण/हेतु (instrumental: ‘by name’)

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

• देवलम्: Devala
• देवलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) द्विवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• पुत्रौ: sons
• पुत्रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) द्विवचन; कर्ता (subject)

• देवलस्य: of Devala
• देवलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Devala)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — ‘also/even’

• क्षमावन्तौ: forbearing
• क्षमावन्तौ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) द्विवचन; विशेषण (patient/forbearing)

• मनीषिणौ: wise
• मनीषिणौ: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा) द्विवचन; विशेषण (wise)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation of progeny lists among primordial beings and sages.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True ṛṣi-nature is marked by kṣamā (forbearance) and manīṣā (discriminating wisdom), not merely by birth.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate patience under provocation and steady discernment in speech and decision-making.

Vishishtadvaita: Virtues are expressions of the jīva’s dharma while remaining dependent on the Lord’s inner governance (śeṣatva implied, though not explicit)

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Kṣamā (forbearance) and manīṣā (wisdom) as ṛṣi-virtues

Key Kings: Pratyūṣa, Devala

Characters & Entities

• Pratyūṣa
• Devala

FAQs

What is the significance of genealogies like Pratyūṣa–Devala in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as a record of dharmic continuity—showing how sages and descendants sustain social and spiritual order under Vishnu’s overarching sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain lineage narration in this section?

Parāśara presents a sequential, remembered tradition (“it is known”) to anchor later events and teachings in an authenticated chain of persons and descendants.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in a verse, the Purana frames these lineages as unfolding within Vishnu’s cosmic governance, where dharma is maintained through rishis and their progeny.