Shloka 21

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

देवासुरमहायुद्धं राजवंशानुकीर्तनम् । इक्ष्वाकुजन्म तद्वंश: सुद्युम्नस्य महात्मन: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

devāsura-mahā-yuddhaṁ rāja-vaṁśānukīrtanam ikṣvāku-janma tad-vaṁśaḥ sudyumnasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

ദേവന്മാരും അസുരന്മാരും തമ്മിലുള്ള മഹായുദ്ധത്തിന്റെ വിവരണം, രാജവംശങ്ങളുടെ ക്രമബദ്ധമായ കീർത്തനം, ഇക്ഷ്വാകുവിന്റെ ജനനവും വംശവും, കൂടാതെ മഹാത്മാവായ സുദ്യുമ്നന്റെ വംശവും—ഇവയെല്ലാം ഈ ഗ്രന്ഥത്തിൽ ഉൾക്കൊള്ളുന്നു।

Synonyms

• देव-असुर-महा-युद्धम्: the great war between gods and demons
• देव-असुर-महा-युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + असुर + महा + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानाम् असुराणां च महायुद्धम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• राज-वंश-अनुकीर्तनम्: the recounting of royal dynasties
• राज-वंश-अनुकीर्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज + वंश + अनु + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (राजवंशस्य अनुकीर्तनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• इक्ष्वाकु-जन्म: the birth of Ikṣvāku
• इक्ष्वाकु-जन्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (इक्ष्वाकोः जन्म); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• तद्-वंशः: his lineage
• तद्-वंशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्य वंशः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• सुद्युम्नस्य: of Sudyumna
• सुद्युम्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular masculine

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular masculine; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

Characters & Entities

• Ikṣvāku
• Sudyumna

FAQs

What does the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam say about the war between the devas and asuras?

This verse notes that Śrīmad Bhāgavatam includes the great devas–asuras conflict as part of its sacred historical narratives, presenting cosmic struggles within the larger purpose of guiding souls toward devotion and dharma.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention royal dynasties like Ikṣvāku’s in Canto 12?

In this chapter Śukadeva is summarizing the Bhāgavatam’s contents; he highlights that the Purāṇa preserves dynastic histories to show dharmic governance, the unfolding of providence, and the lineage context in which great devotees and avatāra narratives appear.

How can the Bhāgavatam’s genealogies be applied in modern spiritual life?

They teach continuity of values: one can reflect on how character, duty, and devotion shape generations, and cultivate personal responsibility—living dharma and bhakti so one’s influence becomes uplifting to family and society.