Shloka 38

Dynasties of Kings: From Manu to Ikṣvāku, Śrī Rāma, and Janaka

Sūryavaṁśa Genealogy

Devanagari script

तस्य पुत्त्रो दशरथश्चत्वारस्तत्सुताः स्मृताः / रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नभरताश्च महाबलाः

Transliteration

tasya puttro daśarathaścatvārastatsutāḥ smṛtāḥ / rāmalakṣmaṇaśatrughnabharatāśca mahābalāḥ

Translation

അവന്റെ പുത്രൻ ദശരഥൻ; അവന്റെ നാലു പുത്രന്മാർ സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു—മഹാബലികളായ രാമൻ, ലക്ഷ്മണൻ, ശത്രുഘ്നൻ, ഭരതൻ.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him (his)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाठे 'पुत्त्रो' इति (त्-लोप/प्राकृतप्राय)

• दशरथः: Daśaratha
• दशरथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—दश + रथ (तत्पुरुषः/नाम)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (numeral)

• तत्सुताः: his sons
• तत्सुताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तद् + सुत (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'his sons')

• स्मृताः: are known/are said
• स्मृताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (are said/remembered)

• रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नभरताः: Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna, and Bharata
• रामलक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नभरताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक) + शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + भरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (समाहार/इतरेतर)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• महाबलाः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—महा + बल (कर्मधारयः: 'greatly strong')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa of Rāma and his brothers as dharmic exemplars; lineage culminates in figures who embody protection and righteousness.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha through avatāra-smṛti; devotion stabilizes the mind toward śānti and dharma.

Application: Use Rāma-smaraṇa as a daily anchor for ethical decision-making; emulate fraternal loyalty and duty.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.138.34-37 (build-up genealogy to this culmination)

Characters & Entities

• Daśaratha
• Rāma
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Śatrughna
• Bharata

FAQs

What is the importance of mentioning Daśaratha and his sons in the Garuda Purana?

This verse anchors the teaching within well-known dharmic history, invoking exemplary royal lineage and the ideal of righteous conduct represented by Rāma and his brothers.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe after-death journey here; instead, it situates the discourse in sacred lineage and dharma, which the Garuda Purana often uses as a foundation for later teachings on karma and consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the example of dharmic figures as a reminder to cultivate duty, self-restraint, and righteous action—key themes that underpin the Purana’s broader karma-based teachings.