Shloka 3

Cessation of the Brahma–Kṣatra Rooted Royal Line at Kṣemaka in Kali-yuga

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य यो योनिर् वंशो राजर्षिसत्कृतः क्षेमकं प्राप्य राजानं स संस्थां प्राप्स्यते कलौ

Transliteration

brahmakṣatrasya yo yonir vaṃśo rājarṣisatkṛtaḥ kṣemakaṃ prāpya rājānaṃ sa saṃsthāṃ prāpsyate kalau

Translation

برہمن-کشتریہ اصل سے پیدا ہوا اور راج رشیوں کے ہاں معزز وہ شاہی سلسلہ، راجا کشیمک تک پہنچ کر کلی یگ میں اختتام کو پہنچے گا۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य: of the Brahmin-and-Kshatriya (line)
• ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + क्षत्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (ब्रह्म च क्षत्रं च)

• यः: who/which
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः (relative pronoun)

• योनिḥ: source, origin
• योनिḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वंशः: dynasty, lineage
• वंशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• राजर्षि-सत्कृतः: honoured by royal sages
• राजर्षि-सत्कृतः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + सत्-उपसर्ग/उपपद) ; राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि/भावे; समासः—तत्पुरुष (राजर्षिभिः सत्कृतः)

• क्षेमकम्: Kṣemaka (the king)
• क्षेमकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेमक (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having reached/attained
• प्राप्य: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial to main verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; अर्थः—‘प्राप्य’ = having reached/obtained

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अन्वयः—पूर्वोक्तस्य निर्देशः

• संस्थाम्: end, cessation, conclusion
• संस्थाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्राप्स्यते: will attain/reach
• प्राप्स्यते: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कलौ: in the Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/Time—अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कालवाचक (locative of time)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation and termination of royal dynasties in Kali-yuga

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even illustrious sovereignties and lineages culminate and cease under the governance of Time (kāla), reminding rulers and hearers of impermanence and dharma’s fragility in Kali.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Hold power and achievement lightly, cultivate dharma and devotion rather than dynastic pride, and plan life with awareness of change.

Vishishtadvaita: Kāla and historical process are read as Bhagavān’s ordinance: worldly orders persist as His body (śarīra) yet remain dependent and mutable under His rule.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Key Kings: Kṣemaka

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Characters & Entities

• Brahma–Kṣatra lineage
• Rājarṣis (royal sages)
• King Kṣemaka

FAQs

What is the significance of Kali Yuga here in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses Kali Yuga as the marker of historical and moral decline in which even honored dynasties reach their end, underscoring impermanence and the turning of the yuga-cycle.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dynastic endings in this section?

Parāśara presents genealogy as governed by time (kāla): lineages rise, are celebrated by rājarṣis, and then conclude at specific kings—here, at Kṣemaka—showing a patterned closure within the yugas.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic doctrine implies that time and the yuga-order operate under the Supreme Lord; the fall of dynasties becomes a lesson in reliance on the eternal Vishnu beyond transient power.