Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

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

Translation

ഇവർ രഥീതരന്റെ ഭാര്യയുടെ ഗർഭക്ഷേത്രത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചതിനാൽ രഥീതരവംശം എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; എന്നാൽ അങ്ഗിരസന്റെ വീര്യത്തിൽ നിന്നു ജനിച്ചതിനാൽ അങ്ഗിരസവംശം എന്നും സ്മരിക്കപ്പെട്ടു. രഥീതര സന്തതിയിൽ ഇവർ ശ്രേഷ്ഠർ; ജന്മത്താൽ ദ്വിജർ (ബ്രാഹ്മണർ) ആയി കണക്കാക്കി।

Synonyms

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘these’

• क्षेत्र-प्रसूताः: kṣetra-born
• क्षेत्र-प्रसूताः: विशेषण (qualifier of ‘एते’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रसूत (प्रातिपदिक; √सू (धातु) से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुष: ‘born in the field (i.e., through kṣetra/appointed husband)’

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘indeed’)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘again/further’)

• तु: but/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — विरोध/अवधानार्थक (particle: ‘but/and’)

• आङ्गिरसाः: Āṅgirasas
• आङ्गिरसाः: कर्ता (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘Āṅgirasas’ (descendants/lineage of Aṅgiras)

• स्मृताः: are called/remembered
• स्मृताः: क्रिया (भावे/Passive predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘स्मृत’ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘are remembered/called’

• रथीतराणाम्: of the Rathītaras
• रथीतराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथीतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘of the Rathītaras’

• प्रवराः: the foremost
• प्रवराः: विशेषण (qualifier of ‘एते’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — ‘excellent/chief’

• क्षेत्र-उपेताः: associated with kṣetra (arranged procreation)
• क्षेत्र-उपेताः: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; √इ (धातु) उपसर्ग-उप + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुष: ‘connected with/obtained through kṣetra (kṣetra-relationship)’

• द्वि-जायतयः: twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्वि-जायतयः: कर्ता (predicate nominative/identification)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — तत्पुरुष: ‘twice-born (brāhmaṇa etc.)’

Purport

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

Characters & Entities

• Aṅgirā
• Rathītara

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by kṣetra-prasūta in this verse?

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.

Why are they called Āṅgirasāḥ (descendants of Aṅgirā) if they were kṣetra-prasūta?

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

What is a practical takeaway from this Bhagavatam genealogy verse?

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.