Shloka 4

ज्यामघ-शैब्या-प्रसङ्गः

Jyāmagha and Śaibyā: Kingship, Fear, and Lineage Tension

Devanagari script

भार्यावश्यास् तु ये केचिद् भविष्यन्त्य् अथ वा मृताः तेषां तु ज्यामघः श्रेष्ठः शैब्यापतिर् अभून् नृपः

Transliteration

bhāryāvaśyās tu ye kecid bhaviṣyanty atha vā mṛtāḥ teṣāṃ tu jyāmaghaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ śaibyāpatir abhūn nṛpaḥ

Translation

Among those kings—whether yet to come or already departed—who were ruled by their wives, the foremost was Jyāmagha: that sovereign became the husband of Śaibyā.

Word by Word

• भार्यावश्याः: submissive to their wives
• भार्यावश्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक) + वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भार्यायाः वश्याः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक-सर्वनाम (some)

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• अथ: then/else
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencing/Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (then/else)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• मृताः: dead
• मृताः: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √मृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

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

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle)

• ज्यामघः: Jyāmagha
• ज्यामघः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्यामघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• श्रेष्ठः: the best
• श्रेष्ठः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शैब्यापतिः: husband of Śaibyā
• शैब्यापतिः: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैब्या (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शैब्यायाः पतिः)

• अभूत्: was/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect-Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नृपः: king
• नृपः: Karta (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: didactic

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Royal conduct is shaped by household dynamics; imbalance in personal governance can reflect into public governance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate wise counsel and emotional self-mastery in leadership; ensure decisions are dharma-guided rather than fear- or attachment-driven.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied: dharma in gṛhastha life is part of the Lord’s order; inner discipline supports outer righteous rule.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Cautionary exemplar regarding excessive spousal dominance in royal decision-making (a nīti motif).

Key Kings: Jyāmagha, Śaibyā

Characters & Entities

• Jyāmagha
• Śaibyā

FAQs

What is the significance of Jyāmagha being called foremost among kings “ruled by their wives” in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks a distinctive characterization within the genealogy: Jyāmagha is singled out in the dynastic record for a household dynamic that becomes narratively important, especially through his association with Śaibyā.

How does Sage Parāśara explain genealogies in this section of the Vishnu Purana?

Parāśara presents lineages as a continuous historical-dharmic record—naming key rulers, spouses, and distinguishing traits—so Maitreya can understand succession, legitimacy, and the flow of royal houses through time.

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

Even when the verse focuses on human kings, the Vishnu Purana frames dynastic order as operating within Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty—history and rulership unfold inside a divinely sustained moral order (dharma).