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Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 3

Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation

एते क्षेत्रप्रसूता वै पुनस्त्वाङ्गिरसा: स्मृता: । रथीतराणां प्रवरा: क्षेत्रोपेता द्विजातय: ॥ ३ ॥

ete kṣetra-prasūtā vai punas tv āṅgirasāḥ smṛtāḥ rathītarāṇāṁ pravarāḥ kṣetropetā dvi-jātayaḥ

Nés du sein de l’épouse de Rathītara, ils furent connus comme la lignée de Rathītara; mais, issus de la semence d’Aṅgirā, on les tint aussi pour la lignée d’Aṅgirā. Parmi la descendance de Rathītara, ils furent les plus éminents et, par leur naissance, considérés comme dvija, des brāhmaṇas.

एतेthese
एते:
कर्ता (subject)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘these’
क्षेत्र-प्रसूताःkṣetra-born
क्षेत्र-प्रसूताः:
विशेषण (qualifier of ‘एते’)
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसूत (प्रातिपदिक; √सू (धातु) से क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुष: ‘born in the field (i.e., through kṣetra/appointed husband)’
वैindeed
वै:
सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘indeed’)
पुनःagain
पुनः:
क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘again/further’)
तुbut/and
तु:
सम्बन्ध (particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय — विरोध/अवधानार्थक (particle: ‘but/and’)
आङ्गिरसाःĀṅgirasas
आङ्गिरसाः:
कर्ता (predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootआङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘Āṅgirasas’ (descendants/lineage of Aṅgiras)
स्मृताःare called/remembered
स्मृताः:
क्रिया (भावे/Passive predication)
TypeVerb
Root√स्मृ (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘स्मृत’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘are remembered/called’
रथीतराणाम्of the Rathītaras
रथीतराणाम्:
सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootरथीतर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘of the Rathītaras’
प्रवराःthe foremost
प्रवराः:
विशेषण (qualifier of ‘एते’)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘excellent/chief’
क्षेत्र-उपेताःassociated with kṣetra (arranged procreation)
क्षेत्र-उपेताः:
विशेषण (qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootक्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; √इ (धातु) उपसर्ग-उप + क्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुष: ‘connected with/obtained through kṣetra (kṣetra-relationship)’
द्वि-जायतयःtwice-born (brāhmaṇas)
द्वि-जायतयः:
कर्ता (predicate nominative/identification)
TypeNoun
Rootद्वि (संख्या) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुष: ‘twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)’

Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura gives the meaning of dvi-jātayaḥ as “mixed caste,” indicating a mixture of brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya.

A
Aṅgirā
R
Rathītara

FAQs

It refers to sons born through a sanctioned kṣetra arrangement—offspring begotten by another on behalf of a husband—yet recognized within a specific lineage according to Vedic custom.

Śukadeva explains that, despite the kṣetra circumstance, tradition remembers them as connected to Aṅgirā’s line, establishing their recognized genealogical identity.

The verse highlights that dharmic identity in Vedic culture is tied not only to biology but also to recognized duties, tradition, and lawful social order—encouraging responsibility and integrity within one’s role.