Shloka 6

प्रियव्रतवंशवर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीपविभागः, जम्बूद्वीप-वर्षविभागः, भरत-नामकरणम्

Devanagari script

महाप्रज्ञा महावीर्या विनीता दयिताः पितुः प्रियव्रतसुताः ख्यातास् तेषां नामानि मे शृणु

Transliteration

mahāprajñā mahāvīryā vinītā dayitāḥ pituḥ priyavratasutāḥ khyātās teṣāṃ nāmāni me śṛṇu

Translation

Priyavrata’s sons were renowned—of great wisdom and great valor, disciplined in conduct, and dearly loved by their father. Hear from me now their names.

Word by Word

• महाप्रज्ञाः: very wise
• महाप्रज्ञाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — 'of great wisdom'

• महावीर्याः: very valorous
• महावीर्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — 'of great valor/energy'

• विनीताः: well-disciplined
• विनीताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-नी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक विशेषण (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — 'disciplined/educated'

• दयिताः: beloved
• दयिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — 'beloved'

• पितुः: of the father
• पितुः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन — 'of (their) father'

• प्रियव्रतसुताः: sons of Priyavrata
• प्रियव्रतसुताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियव्रत + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'sons of Priyavrata'

• ख्याताः: renowned
• ख्याताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — 'renowned'

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन — 'of them'

• नामानि: names
• नामानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन — 'names' (object of 'hear')

• मे: from me
• मे: Apadana/Source (from speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th), एकवचन — enclitic 'my/to me' (here: 'from me')

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन — 'hear'

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Enumeration and characterization of Priyavrata’s sons.

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Royal progeny are idealized as combining prajñā (wisdom), vīrya (valor), and vinaya (discipline), implying dharmic fitness to govern.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate competence with humility—pair learning and strength with self-restraint in leadership roles.

Vishishtadvaita: Virtue and social order are upheld as expressions of the Lord’s governance through dharmic agents (kings as instruments).

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Vinaya (disciplined conduct)

Key Kings: Priyavrata

Characters & Entities

• Priyavrata
• Priyavrata’s sons

FAQs

What is the significance of Priyavrata’s sons being described as wise, valorous, and disciplined in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames royal lineage as dharmic legitimacy—kingship is presented as grounded in wisdom, strength, and self-control, supporting the Purana’s theme of universal order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain genealogies to Maitreya in this section?

He signals a formal transition: first praising the qualities and renown of the descendants, then proceeding to enumerate their names and roles in the unfolding narrative.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s genealogies function as an account of divinely sustained order—lineages and righteous rule are treated as instruments within Vishnu’s sovereign cosmic governance.