Shloka 40

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

Sūryavaṁśa Genealogy

Devanagari script

सुबाहुशूरसेनौ च शत्रुघ्नात्संबभूवतुः / कुशस्य चातिथिः पुत्रो निषधो ह्यतिथेः सुतः

Transliteration

subāhuśūrasenau ca śatrughnātsaṃbabhūvatuḥ / kuśasya cātithiḥ putro niṣadho hyatitheḥ sutaḥ

Translation

శత్రుఘ్నుని నుండి సుబాహు, శూరసేనులు జన్మించారు. కుశునికి అతిథి అనే కుమారుడు, అతిథికి నిషధుడు అనే కుమారుడు పుట్టాడు.

Word by Word

• सुबाहुशूरसेनौ: Subahu and Shurasena
• सुबाहुशूरसेनौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुबाहुशूरसेन (प्रातिपदिक; सुबाहु + शूरसेन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास

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

• शत्रुघ्नात्: from Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संबभूवतुः: were born / came into being
• संबभूवतुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) उपसर्गः सम् + √भू
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुशस्य: of Kusha
• कुशस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

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

• आतिथिः: Atithi
• आतिथिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निषधः: Nishadha
• निषधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निषध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अतिथेः: of Atithi
• अतिथेः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa of righteous lineages as a cultural dharma—transmitting exemplars and obligations.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a sustaining order (ṛta/dharma continuity) within saṃsāra.

Application: Study exemplary histories to shape conduct; treat ancestry as responsibility (service, virtue) rather than entitlement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.138 (continuation of Rāghava-vaṃśa list)

Characters & Entities

• Subāhu
• Śūrasena
• Śatrughna
• Kuśa
• Atithi
• Niṣadha

FAQs

What is the importance of genealogy passages in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves dynastic succession (Śatrughna → Subāhu/Śūrasena; Kuśa → Atithi → Niṣadha), helping anchor dharma and royal lineage narratives within Purāṇic history.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe afterlife doctrine; it functions as a genealogical link in the narrative, situating later teachings within a remembered sacred-historical lineage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes continuity of tradition—remembering lineage, teachers, and inherited duties—encouraging responsibility and dharma within one’s family and community.