Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 5
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
तेषां पुरस्तादभवन्नार्यावर्ते नृपा नृप । पञ्चविंशति: पश्चाच्च त्रयो मध्येऽपरेऽन्यत: ॥ ५ ॥
teṣāṁ purastād abhavann āryāvarte nṛpā nṛpa pañca-viṁśatiḥ paścāc ca trayo madhye ’pare ’nyataḥ
Parmi ces cent fils, vingt-cinq devinrent rois dans la partie occidentale de l’Āryāvarta, vingt-cinq dans sa partie orientale; les trois fils principaux régnèrent au pays du milieu, et les autres gouvernèrent en diverses contrées.
FAQs
This verse notes that many kings arose in Āryāvarta from the described lineage—counting specific numbers in earlier and later branches—indicating an extensive dynastic spread in the Vedic heartland.
Śukadeva is summarizing genealogical branches to map the flow of dynasties efficiently, showing how royal lines expanded across Āryāvarta without narrating every ruler in full detail.
It encourages seeing history through dharma—valuing lineage not merely as bloodline, but as responsibility to preserve culture, truthfulness, and principled leadership in one’s own sphere.