Shloka 32

Devanagari script

सुमतिर् भरतस्याभूत् पुत्रः परमधार्मिकः कृत्वा सम्यग् ददौ तस्मै राज्यम् इष्टमखः पिता

Transliteration

sumatir bharatasyābhūt putraḥ paramadhārmikaḥ kṛtvā samyag dadau tasmai rājyam iṣṭamakhaḥ pitā

Translation

Bharata had a son named Sumati, a prince of supreme righteousness. His father, devoted to the sacrifices he cherished, duly set all affairs in order and bestowed the kingdom upon him.

Word by Word

• सुमतिः: Sumati
• सुमतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भरतस्य: of Bharata
• भरतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुत्रः: a son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सुमतिः’ इत्यस्य विधेय (apposition)

• परमधार्मिकः: supremely righteous
• परमधार्मिकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + धार्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (परमः धार्मिकः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purva-kriya (Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• सम्यक्: properly, duly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• इष्टमखः: one whose sacrifices are duly performed
• इष्टमखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-निष्पन्न) + मख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (इष्टः मखः यस्य/इष्टमखः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पिता: the father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation of Bharata’s lineage and succession

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Righteous governance includes orderly succession—entrusting prosperity (śrī) to a worthy heir after completing one’s duties.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Plan transitions responsibly—family, work, leadership—so that dharma continues without disruption; cultivate heirs/teams through values, not favoritism.

Vishishtadvaita: Householder/kingly duties are honored as service within God’s order; renunciation is undertaken after dharma is duly fulfilled.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: rājadharma (orderly kingship)

Key Kings: Bharata, Sumati

Vaishnava Theology

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Bharata
• Sumati

FAQs

What is the significance of Sumati in the Vishnu Purana’s royal genealogies?

This verse establishes Sumati as Bharata’s son and emphasizes his exemplary dharma, marking him as a legitimate and worthy link in the dynastic succession.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the transfer of royal power in this passage?

Parāśara presents kingship as something entrusted through proper procedure—after setting affairs in order—highlighting rajadharma rather than mere inheritance.

What is the theological importance of dharmic kingship here in a Vaishnava Purana?

By portraying righteous succession and sacrificial piety as the basis of sovereignty, the text implies that stable rule aligns with the cosmic order upheld by Vishnu, the supreme regulator of dharma and time.