Shloka 4

Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

उदानो ऽह्निनरश्चैव दण्डपाणिर्निमित्तकः / क्षेमकश्च ततः शूद्रः पिता पूर्वस्ततः सुतः

Transliteration

udāno 'hninaraścaiva daṇḍapāṇirnimittakaḥ / kṣemakaśca tataḥ śūdraḥ pitā pūrvastataḥ sutaḥ

Translation

Udāna, Ahninara, dan juga Daṇḍapāṇi yang disebut Nimittaka; kemudian Kṣemaka; kemudian Śūdra—mula-mula sang bapa, sesudah itu sang anak.

Word by Word

• उदानः: Udāna (proper name)
• उदानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अह्निनरः: Ahninara (proper name)
• अह्निनरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अह्नि/अहन् (प्रातिपदिक) + नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अह्नि-नर इति नाम)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic: ‘indeed/just’)

• दण्डपाणिः: Daṇḍapāṇi (proper name)
• दण्डपाणिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (दण्डः पाणौ यस्य ‘staff-in-hand’) नामरूपेण

• निमित्तकः: Nimittaka (proper name)
• निमित्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमित्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षेमकः: Kṣemaka (proper name)
• क्षेमकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेमक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (thereafter)

• शूद्रः: Śūdra (proper name)
• शूद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नामरूपेण)

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्वः: former/previous
• पूर्वः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पिता इति विशेष्य)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana/Temporal (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Social order and kingship undergo degeneration across time; lineage continues but quality of dharma may wane.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-kṣaya across yugas; kāla’s influence on social structures.

Application: Do not rely on inherited status; cultivate character and competence; strengthen institutions to withstand decline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.1-3 (preceding king-list context)

Characters & Entities

• Udāna
• Ahninara
• Daṇḍapāṇi
• Nimittaka
• Kṣemaka
• Śūdra
• Father
• Son

FAQs

What is the importance of listing names like Udāna, Daṇḍapāṇi, and Kṣemaka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as an enumeration, preserving a traditional list of named figures/roles used in the chapter’s ritual or doctrinal context, indicating an ordered sequence rather than a standalone moral teaching.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by cataloging specific named figures and relations (father/son), it supports the text’s broader structure of ordered stages, agents, or lineages that frame ritual duty and post-death considerations elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat such enumerations as cues for careful transmission: when performing śrāddha or studying death-rite sections, follow the prescribed order and naming faithfully, as the tradition emphasizes sequence and accuracy.