Shloka 18

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

Sūryavaṁśa Genealogy

Devanagari script

रथीनरश्च तत्पुत्रो वासुदेवपरायणः / इक्ष्वाकोस्तु त्रयः पुत्राः विकुक्षिनिमिदण्डकाः

Transliteration

rathīnaraśca tatputro vāsudevaparāyaṇaḥ / ikṣvākostu trayaḥ putrāḥ vikukṣinimidaṇḍakāḥ

Translation

రథీనరుని కుమారుడు వాసుదేవ పరాయణుడు. ఇక ఇక్ష్వాకునికి ముగ్గురు కుమారులు—వికుక్షి, నిమి, దండక.

Word by Word

• रथीनरः: Rathīnara
• रथीनरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथीनर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (रथिन्/रथी + नर) (नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: his
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of him’ (with पुत्रः)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वासुदेवपरायणः: devoted to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवपरायणः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वासुदेवे परायणः = devoted to Vāsudeva)

• इक्ष्वाकोः: of Ikṣvāku
• इक्ष्वाकोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of Ikṣvāku’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective qualifying पुत्राः

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विकुक्षि: Vikukṣi
• विकुक्षि: Karta (Member of enumeration/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नाम); listed as member of a set

• निमि: Nimi
• निमि: Karta (Member of enumeration/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नाम); listed as member of a set

• दण्डकाः: Daṇḍaka(s)
• दण्डकाः: Karta (Member of enumeration/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (नाम/जनपद-नाम); here as third name in enumeration (often singular ‘Daṇḍaka’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vāsudeva-parāyaṇatā (single-minded devotion to Vāsudeva) as the highest orientation even for rulers.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-bhakti as mind-purification leading toward mokṣa; surrender (śaraṇāgati) within worldly station.

Application: Anchor leadership and daily decisions in devotion/ethical theism; cultivate regular nāma-smaraṇa and offering of actions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: dynastic heartland (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.138 (mention of Vāsudeva-parāyaṇa within vaṃśa narration)

Characters & Entities

• Rathīnara
• Vāsudeva
• Ikṣvāku
• Vikukṣi
• Nimi
• Daṇḍaka

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion to Vāsudeva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents “vāsudeva-parāyaṇa” as an honored trait of royal lineage, implying that bhakti to Vāsudeva is a defining virtue that elevates one’s life and legacy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by highlighting steadfast devotion to Vāsudeva, it points to a life oriented toward dharma and bhakti—qualities the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as spiritually beneficial, especially when contrasted with karmic consequences elsewhere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate consistent devotion and ethical living (bhakti with dharma), and remember that spiritual orientation—like “Vāsudeva-parāyaṇa”—is presented as a lasting measure of one’s life.