Shloka 20

Dakṣa’s Daughters, Cosmic Lineages, and the Population of the Three Worlds

Devanagari script

कृशाश्वोऽर्चिषि भार्यायां धूमकेतुमजीजनत् । धिषणायां वेदशिरो देवलं वयुनं मनुम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

kṛśāśvo ’rciṣi bhāryāyāṁ dhūmaketum ajījanat dhiṣaṇāyāṁ vedaśiro devalaṁ vayunaṁ manum

Translation

Kṛśāśva eut deux épouses, Arcis et Dhiṣaṇā. D’Arcis il engendra Dhūmaketu, et de Dhiṣaṇā il engendra quatre fils : Vedaśirā, Devala, Vayuna et Manu.

Synonyms

• kṛśāśvaḥ: Kṛśāśva (name)
• kṛśāśvaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛśāśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• arciṣi: in/through Arciṣ (wife Arciṣi)
• arciṣi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arciṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhāryāyām: in (his) wife
• bhāryāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); appositional with arciṣi

• dhūmaketum: Dhūmaketu
• dhūmaketum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūmaketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa proper name (‘smoke-bannered’)

• ajījanat: begot, generated
• ajījanat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (धातु; causative √janay)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense ‘caused to be born/begot’

• dhiṣaṇāyām: in/through Dhiṣaṇā (wife)
• dhiṣaṇāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhiṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vedaśiraḥ: Vedaśiras
• vedaśiraḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa proper name (‘Veda-head’)

• devalam: Devala
• devalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vayunam: Vayuna
• vayunam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• manum: Manu
• manum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛśāśva
• Arciṣ
• Dhūmaketu
• Dhiṣaṇā
• Vedaśirā
• Devala
• Vayuna
• Manu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the descendants of Kṛśāśva?

In 6.6.20, Śukadeva states that Kṛśāśva fathered Dhūmaketu through Arciṣ, and Vedaśirā, Devala, Vayuna, and Manu through Dhiṣaṇā.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī list these names in Canto 6?

He is describing the unfolding of creation through lineages—how progeny expand the cosmic administration and social order under dharma.

What is a practical application of these genealogies for modern readers?

They cultivate a sense of sacred history and continuity, reminding readers that life and society are meant to be aligned with dharma and ultimately directed toward devotion to Bhagavān.