Shloka 5

Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

बृहद्बलास्तु कथयन्ते नृपोश्चैक्ष्वाकुवंशजाः / बृहद्बलादुरुक्षयो वत्सव्यूहस्ततः परः

Transliteration

bṛhadbalāstu kathayante nṛpoścaikṣvākuvaṃśajāḥ / bṛhadbalādurukṣayo vatsavyūhastataḥ paraḥ

Translation

இக்ஷ்வாகு வம்சத்தில் பிறந்த அரசர்களில் ப்ருஹத்பலன் புகழ்பெற்றவன். ப்ருஹத்பலனிடமிருந்து உருக்ஷயன், அதன் பின் வத்ஸவ்யூஹன் தோன்றினான்.

Word by Word

• बृहद्बलाः: (the) Bṛhadbalas (persons named Bṛhadbala)
• बृहद्बलाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेष्य-प्रधानः कर्मधारयः (bṛhat+balāḥ)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• कथयन्ते: are said/are narrated
• कथयन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• इक्ष्वाकुवंशजाः: born in the Ikṣvāku lineage
• इक्ष्वाकुवंशजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (इक्ष्वाकु-वंशस्य जाताः)

• बृहद्बलात्: from Bṛhadbala
• बृहद्बलात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• उरुक्षयः: Urukṣaya (a name)
• उरुक्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• वत्सव्यूहः: Vatsavyūha (a name)
• वत्सव्यूहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वत्स-सम्बन्धी व्यूहः)

• ततः: thereafter/from him
• ततः: Temporal/Source adjunct (काल/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb) ‘thereafter/from him’

• परः: next/after him
• परः: Predicate adjective (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (next)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the broader dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smṛti of lineage as a vehicle for dharma and social order; legitimacy through succession.

Vedantic Theme: Anityatā of embodied rulers contrasted with the continuity of nāma-rūpa in saṃsāra; history as a mirror for impermanence.

Application: Use genealogical remembrance to cultivate humility and responsibility in leadership; keep family/ancestral records as a dharmic duty (in a non-egoic way).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dynastic/royal lineage (not a single place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141 (genealogical catalogue continues)

Characters & Entities

• Ikshvaku dynasty
• Bṛhadbala
• Urukṣaya
• Vatsavyūha

FAQs

What is the importance of Ikṣvāku dynasty genealogy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves the succession of Solar-dynasty rulers, helping readers place dharma, kingship, and epic-era narratives within a recognized Purāṇic lineage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death in the Garuda Purana?

It does not address afterlife doctrine; it is a genealogical statement listing kings of the Ikṣvāku line.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it for accurate scriptural study, lineage mapping, and cross-referencing Purāṇic/Itihāsa history rather than for ritual or afterlife instruction.