Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 11

Chandravamsa and Yadu Lineage: From Soma to the Vrishnis, Krishna’s Family, and the Transition to Puru

Devanagari script

भीमरथः केतुमतो दिवोदासस्तदात्मजः / दिवोदासात्प्रतर्दनः शत्रुजित्सो ऽत्र विश्रुतः

Transliteration

bhīmarathaḥ ketumato divodāsastadātmajaḥ / divodāsātpratardanaḥ śatrujitso 'tra viśrutaḥ

Translation

کیتُمان سے بھیمرتھ پیدا ہوا؛ اس کا بیٹا دیووداس تھا۔ دیووداس سے پرتردن ہوا، جو یہاں ‘شترُجِت’—دشمنوں کو فتح کرنے والا—کے نام سے مشہور ہے۔

Word by Word

• भीमरथः: Bhīmaratha (name)
• भीमरथः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (भीमः रथः यस्य/भीम-रथ)

• केतुमतः: of Ketumān
• केतुमतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• दिवोदासः: Divodāsa (name)
• दिवोदासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवोदास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तदात्मजः: his son
• तदात्मजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तद् + आत्मज)

• दिवोदासात्: from Divodāsa
• दिवोदासात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवोदास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रतर्दनः: Pratardana (name)
• प्रतर्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शत्रुजित्: Śatrujit (enemy-conqueror; name)
• शत्रुजित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुजित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शत्रु + जित्)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place: here/in this context)

• विश्रुतः: renowned
• विश्रुतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kṣātra-dharma: strength and victory are meaningful when aligned with protection of subjects and suppression of adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-based roles (svadharma) within the cosmic order; action sanctified by right intention.

Application: Use power/competence to defend the vulnerable and uphold fairness; avoid aggression driven by ego.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kingdom/court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.139.11 (Śatrujit epithet within vaṁśa)

Characters & Entities

• Bhīmaratha
• Ketumat
• Divodāsa
• Pratardana
• Śatrujit

FAQs

What is the importance of royal genealogies in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves lineage memory—linking notable rulers by succession—serving as a traditional record that situates later teachings within recognized dynastic history.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides genealogical context, a common Purāṇic method of grounding spiritual instruction within historical lineages.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat ancestry and historical memory with care: document family lineages responsibly and cultivate ‘śatrujit’ qualities—self-discipline and victory over inner enemies like anger and greed.