Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

झर्झरः शकुनिश् चैव भूतसंतापनस् तथा महानाभो महाबाहुः कालनाभस् तथापरः

Transliteration

jharjharaḥ śakuniś caiva bhūtasaṃtāpanas tathā mahānābho mahābāhuḥ kālanābhas tathāparaḥ

Translation

Jharjhara and Śakuni, Bhūta-saṃtāpana as well; then Mahānābha, Mahābāhu, and likewise Kālanābha—these too are named among them.

Word by Word

• झर्झरः: Jharjhara (name)
• झर्झरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झर्झर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शकुनिः: Śakuni (name)
• शकुनिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• भूतसंतापनः: Bhūtasaṃtāpana (name; 'tormentor of beings')
• भूतसंतापनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + संतापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (adverb/conjunctive)

• महानाभः: Mahānābha (name)
• महानाभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (mahā + nābha)

• महाबाहुः: Mahābāhu (name)
• महाबाहुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (mahā + bāhu)

• कालनाभः: Kālanābha (name)
• कालनाभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (kāla + nābha)

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (adverb/conjunctive)

• अपरः: another (one)
• अपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Naming of prominent Dānava figures within the genealogical register.

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: authoritative

Dynasty & Genealogy

Key Kings: Jharjhara, Shakuni, Bhutasantapana, Mahanabha, Mahabahu, Kalanabha

Characters & Entities

• Jharjhara
• Śakuni
• Bhūtasaṃtāpana
• Mahānābha
• Mahābāhu
• Kālanābha
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of listing names like Mahānābha and Kālanābha in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as power-epithets and attendant names that map Vishnu’s cosmic governance—His order extends through named forces that uphold time, strength, and the regulation of beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the cosmic order through such catalogues?

Parāśara presents the universe as structured and administered: by enumerating names and roles, he shows that creation and time-cycles operate under Vishnu’s supreme, intelligible sovereignty rather than randomness.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse appears as a simple list, its frame is Vaishnava: these names point back to Vishnu as the ultimate Lord whose will organizes beings, powers, and the unfolding of time.