Shloka 31

Vaṁśānukīrtana: From Janamejaya’s Line to Bharata–Kuru–Pāṇḍava Descendants

Devanagari script

विदूरथस्तु सुरथात्सार्वभौमो विदूरथात् / जयसेनः सार्वभौमादावधीतस्तदात्मजः

Transliteration

vidūrathastu surathātsārvabhaumo vidūrathāt / jayasenaḥ sārvabhaumādāvadhītastadātmajaḥ

Translation

സുരഥനിൽ നിന്ന് വിദൂരഥൻ ജനിച്ചു; വിദൂരഥനിൽ നിന്ന് സാർവഭൗമൻ; സാർവഭൗമനിൽ നിന്ന് ജയസേനൻ; അവനിൽ നിന്ന് അവന്റെ പുത്രൻ അവധീതൻ ജനിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• विदूरथः: Vidūratha (proper name)
• विदूरथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदूरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पदार्थ-भेदक (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• सुरथात्: from Suratha
• सुरथात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सार्वभौमः: Sārvabhauma (proper name)
• सार्वभौमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्वभौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• विदूरथात्: from Vidūratha
• विदूरथात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विदूरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• जयसेनः: Jayasena (proper name)
• जयसेनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयसेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सार्वभौमात्: from Sārvabhauma
• सार्वभौमात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्वभौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आवधीत: was born/was produced (lit. struck down; here genealogical ‘arose’)
• आवधीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वध् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: his/that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद-रूपेण (as prior member in compound)

• आत्मजः: son (born of him)
• आत्मजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpurusha)

Speaker

Sūta / narrator (genealogical narration within Garuda Purana’s discourse framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Paramparā (lineage) as a vehicle for preserving rājadharma and social order.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of individual lives contrasted with continuity of dharma through succession.

Application: Honor ancestry and responsibility: treat inherited roles/skills as stewardship rather than possession.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: royal lineage (Kuru-related)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.140 (genealogical sequence continuing in adjacent verses)

Characters & Entities

• Suratha
• Vidūratha
• Sārvabhauma
• Jayasena
• Avadhīta

FAQs

What is the importance of genealogies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves dynastic succession—linking rulers through lineage—used to situate teachings and narratives within an authoritative historical-sacred framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey here; it functions as a genealogical record, naming successive kings and their descent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages respect for ancestry and continuity—supporting practices like remembering forebears (pitṛ-smaraṇa) and valuing ethical stewardship across generations.