Shloka 8

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame

Devanagari script

कृतध्वजस्य पुत्रो ऽभूत् ख्यातः केशिध्वजो द्विज पुत्रो ऽमितध्वजस्यापि खाण्डिक्यजनको ऽभवत्

Transliteration

kṛtadhvajasya putro 'bhūt khyātaḥ keśidhvajo dvija putro 'mitadhvajasyāpi khāṇḍikyajanako 'bhavat

Translation

O twice-born, Kṛtadhvaja had a renowned son named Keśidhvaja. And Amitadhvaja too had a son, celebrated as the father (janaka) of Khāṇḍikya.

Word by Word

• कृतध्वजस्य: of Kṛtadhvaja
• कृतध्वजस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — masculine, genitive, singular

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — masculine, nominative, singular

• अभूत्: was / came to be
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अorist/भूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — aorist, 3rd person singular

• ख्यातः: renowned
• ख्यातः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/विशेषण), एकवचन — past passive participle used adjectivally “renowned”

• केशिध्वजः: Keśidhvaja
• केशिध्वजः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशिध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — masculine, nominative, singular (proper name)

• द्विज: O twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — masculine, vocative, singular

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — masculine, nominative, singular

• अमितध्वजस्य: of Amitadhvaja
• अमितध्वजस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमितध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — masculine, genitive, singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय — particle “also/even”

• खाण्डिक्यजनकः: the father of Khāṇḍikya
• खाण्डिक्यजनकः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘खाण्डिक्यस्य जनकः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन — masculine, nominative, singular

• अभवत्: was / became
• अभवत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — imperfect, 3rd person singular

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Completing identification of Keśidhvaja and Khāṇḍikya through lineage details.

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: authoritative

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Paramparā of yoga-knowledge within kṣatriya lineage.

Key Kings: Kṛtadhvaja, Keśidhvaja, Amitadhvaja, Khāṇḍikya

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Characters & Entities

• Kṛtadhvaja
• Keśidhvaja
• Amitadhvaja
• Khāṇḍikya
• Dvija (addressed sage)

FAQs

What is the significance of genealogies in Ansha 4 of the Vishnu Purana?

This verse exemplifies how the Purana records royal succession—linking named kings through father–son descent to preserve sacred history and portray kingship as part of a divinely sustained order.

How does Sage Parāśara present the dynasty narrative to Maitreya here?

Parāśara continues a concise chain of descent, addressing the listener as “dvija,” and moving the story forward by naming successive heirs and their notable identifiers (such as being the father of a known figure).

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames dynastic continuity as operating within Vishnu’s supreme governance—history unfolding as part of cosmic and moral order (dharma).