Shloka 2

Dynastic Enumeration and the Threefold Pralaya (वंशानुकीर्तनं—प्रलयत्रयवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

शुचिद्रथो वृष्णिमांश्च सुपेणश्च सुनीथकः / नृचक्षुश्च मुखाबाणः मेधावी च नृपञ्जयः

Transliteration

śucidratho vṛṣṇimāṃśca supeṇaśca sunīthakaḥ / nṛcakṣuśca mukhābāṇaḥ medhāvī ca nṛpañjayaḥ

Translation

శుచిద్రథుడు, వృష్ణిమాన్, సుపేణుడు, సునీథకుడు; నృచక్షుడు, ముఖాబాణుడు, మేధావి మరియు నృపంజయుడు—ఇవీ పేర్లు.

Word by Word

• शुचिद्रथः: Śucidratha (proper name)
• शुचिद्रथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (शुचिः रथः यस्य/शुचिद्रथ इति नाम)

• वृष्णिमान्: Vṛṣṇimān (proper name)
• वृष्णिमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष्णि (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive) नामरूपेण

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

• सुपेणः: Supeṇa (proper name)
• सुपेणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• सुनीथकः: Sunīthaka (proper name)
• सुनीथकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + नीथक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सु-नीथक इति नाम)

• नृचक्षुः: Nṛcakṣu (proper name)
• नृचक्षुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नृणां चक्षुः/नृचक्षु इति नाम)

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

• मुखाबाणः: Mukhābāṇa (proper name)
• मुखाबाणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मुखात् बाणः/मुखाबाण इति नाम)

• मेधावी: Medhāvī (proper name / the wise one)
• मेधावी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेधा (प्रातिपदिक) + विनि/ई (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-नाम (wise/intelligent) नामरूपेण

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

• नृपञ्जयः: Nṛpañjaya (proper name)
• नृपञ्जयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नृपान् जयति/नृपञ्जय इति नाम)

Speaker

Likely Lord Viṣṇu addressing Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra), in a catalog/listing context (names enumerated).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa of succession highlights impermanence and the patterned flow of time (kāla).

Vedantic Theme: Kāla as a manifest power; worldly identities pass while dharma is the measure.

Application: Use historical perspective to reduce ego and short-termism; plan actions with long horizons.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.141.1 (preceding list); Garuda Purana 1.141.3-4 (following list)

FAQs

What is the importance of name-lists (nāma-saṅgraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as an enumerative record—preserving a traditional list of notable figures; such lists often support remembrance, lineage/context, and textual continuity within the chapter.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or after-death teachings?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s journey; it is a straightforward naming sequence, likely part of a broader chapter where surrounding verses provide the doctrinal or ritual context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cue to read the surrounding verses for the full teaching, and as a reminder that Purāṇic instruction often embeds doctrine within narrative, lists, and exemplars.