Shloka 19

Daitya–Dānava Vaṁśa, Kaśyapa’s Progeny, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

सुरसायाः सहस्रं तु सर्पाणाम् अमितौजसाम् अनेकशिरसां ब्रह्मन् खेचराणां महात्मनाम्

Transliteration

surasāyāḥ sahasraṃ tu sarpāṇām amitaujasām anekaśirasāṃ brahman khecarāṇāṃ mahātmanām

Translation

O Brahmin, Surasā bore a thousand serpents—of immeasurable might—many-headed, ranging through the skies, and great-souled by nature.

Word by Word

• सुरसायाः: of Surasā
• सुरसायाः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: surasā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma/Count (कर्म/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक नाम

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

• सर्पाणाम्: of serpents
• सर्पाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अमितौजसाम्: of immeasurable strength
• अमितौजसाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita + ojas (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (अमितम् ओजः येषाम्)

• अनेकशिरसाम्: many-headed
• अनेकशिरसाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka + śiras (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अनेकानि शिरांसि येषाम्)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

• खेचराणाम्: of sky-goers
• खेचराणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha + cara (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (खे चरन्ति इति)

• महात्मनाम्: of great-souled ones
• महात्मनाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा येषाम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Enumeration of species-lines from Dakṣa’s daughters; nāga origins and varieties.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Surasā
• Serpents (Nāgas)

FAQs

What is the significance of Surasā giving birth to a thousand serpents in the Vishnu Purana?

It emphasizes Purāṇic cosmology through genealogical catalogues—showing how entire classes of powerful beings (Nāgas) arise within the ordered creation governed by Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the classification of beings like khecaras and nāgas?

He presents them as distinct cosmic lineages and categories within Sarga, describing their origins and traits (such as many-headedness and great power) as part of the structured universe.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇa frames these births and hierarchies as occurring within Vishnu’s supreme ordering of reality—creation as an expression of the Lord’s sovereignty.