Shloka 1

वंशवर्णनम्, अनिरुद्धविवाहः, तथा बलराम-रुक्मी द्यूतविवादः

Devanagari script

चारुदेष्णं सुदेष्णं च चारुदेहं च वीर्यवान् सुषेणं चारुगुप्तं च भद्रचारुं तथा परम्

Transliteration

cārudeṣṇaṃ sudeṣṇaṃ ca cārudehaṃ ca vīryavān suṣeṇaṃ cāruguptaṃ ca bhadracāruṃ tathā param

Translation

Then (in that lineage) were born Cārudeṣṇa and Sudeṣṇa; and the valiant Cārudeha; also Suṣeṇa, Cārugupta, and Bhadracāru—these, and others beyond them, were thus reckoned in succession.

Word by Word

• cāru-deṣṇam: Cārudeṣṇa (name)
• cāru-deṣṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + deṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• su-deṣṇam: Sudeṣṇa (name)
• su-deṣṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + deṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• cāru-deham: Cārudeha (name)
• cāru-deham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• vīryavān: valiant, powerful
• vīryavān: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīryavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (possessive adjective)

• suṣeṇam: Suṣeṇa (name)
• suṣeṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suṣeṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• cāru-guptam: Cārugupta (name)
• cāru-guptam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + gupta (कृदन्त, √gup)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम; 'gupta' = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• bhadra-cārum: Bhadracāru (name)
• bhadra-cārum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक) + cāru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): 'also'

• param: another, further
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (used as 'another/additional')

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To manifest divine kingship and establish dharma through the flourishing of the Yādava line during his descent.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Continuity of righteous lineage and social stability through orderly succession.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Key Kings: Cārudeṣṇa, Sudeṣṇa, Cārudeha, Suṣeṇa, Cārugupta, Bhadracāru

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Cārudeṣṇa
• Sudeṣṇa
• Cārudeha
• Suṣeṇa
• Cārugupta
• Bhadracāru
• Royal lineage (Vamsha)

FAQs

What is the significance of genealogical name-lists like this in the Vishnu Purana?

They preserve the continuity of royal succession (vamsha) and frame history as dharma unfolding under the supreme governance of Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dynastic continuity to Maitreya here?

By a sequential enumeration of rulers—showing lineage as an ordered transmission rather than isolated biographies, emphasizing continuity across generations.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework treats kingship and succession as operating within Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty, where dharma and order are ultimately upheld by the Supreme.