Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 12
The Kuru Line, Bhīṣma and Vyāsa; Pāṇḍavas, Parīkṣit, and Future Kings
Chandravaṁśa Continuation
देवापि: शान्तनुस्तस्य बाह्लीक इति चात्मजा: । पितृराज्यं परित्यज्य देवापिस्तु वनं गत: ॥ १२ ॥ अभवच्छान्तनू राजा प्राङ्महाभिषसंज्ञित: । यं यं कराभ्यां स्पृशति जीर्णं यौवनमेति स: ॥ १३ ॥
devāpiḥ śāntanus tasya bāhlīka iti cātmajāḥ pitṛ-rājyaṁ parityajya devāpis tu vanaṁ gataḥ
Les fils de Pratīpa furent Devāpi, Śāntanu et Bāhlīka. Devāpi renonça au royaume paternel et partit pour la forêt; ainsi Śāntanu devint roi. Śāntanu, connu dans une existence antérieure sous le nom de Mahābhiṣa, avait le pouvoir, par le simple toucher de ses mains, de rendre la jeunesse à celui qui était vieilli.
FAQs
This verse states that Devāpi gave up the hereditary throne and chose forest life, highlighting renunciation and detachment from royal power.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates the dynastic history to King Parīkṣit, describing the sons and their paths.
It teaches that status and inheritance are temporary, and that choosing higher values—self-control, simplicity, and spiritual purpose—can be a noble life-direction.