Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

स्वर्भानोस् तु प्रभा कन्या शर्मिष्ठा वार्षपर्वणी उपदानवी हयशिराः प्रख्याता वरकन्यकाः

Transliteration

svarbhānos tu prabhā kanyā śarmiṣṭhā vārṣaparvaṇī upadānavī hayaśirāḥ prakhyātā varakanyakāḥ

Translation

From Svarbhānu was born a daughter named Prabhā; and there were also the renowned maidens—Śarmiṣṭhā, Vārṣaparvaṇī, Upadānavī, and Hayaśirā—celebrated as daughters of noble lineage.

Word by Word

• स्वर्भानोः: of Svarbhānu
• स्वर्भानोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — ‘of Svarbhānu’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• प्रभा: Prabhā (name)
• प्रभा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कन्या: daughter/maiden
• कन्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — apposition to प्रभा

• शर्मिष्ठा: Śarmiṣṭhā (name)
• शर्मिष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्मिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वार्षपर्वणी: Vārṣaparvaṇī (name)
• वार्षपर्वणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्षपर्वणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उपदानवी: Upadānavī (name)
• उपदानवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदानवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हयशिराः: Hayashiras (horse-headed ones/name)
• हयशिराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयशिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — समास: हय + शिरस् (‘horse-head’)

• प्रख्याता: well-known/renowned
• प्रख्याता: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्यै/ख्यात ‘to be known’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — agrees with वरकन्यकाः (fem. pl.)

• वरकन्यकाः: excellent maidens
• वरकन्यकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरकन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — समास: वर + कन्यका (‘excellent maidens’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Genealogy and proliferation of Daityas/Dānavas within early creation (asura lineages).

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Svarbhānu
• Prabhā
• Śarmiṣṭhā
• Vārṣaparvaṇī
• Upadānavī
• Hayaśirā

FAQs

What is the significance of genealogical lists like these in the Vishnu Purana?

They preserve dynastic memory across cosmic ages and show how all beings—devas, asuras, and humans—fit within an ordered universe ultimately governed by Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain lineage and continuity in this section?

Parāśara presents a structured descent (parents and notable offspring), using named figures to link broader mythic events and families across Manvantara-era history.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in a given verse, the Purana frames these lineages as unfolding within Vishnu’s sovereign cosmic administration, where order, time, and destiny are sustained by the Supreme Reality.