Shloka 21
Āgnīdhra Meets Pūrvacitti and Begets the Nine Sons of Jambūdvīpa
आग्नीध्रसुतास्ते मातुरनुग्रहादौत्पत्तिकेनैव संहननबलोपेता: पित्रा विभक्ता आत्मतुल्यनामानि यथाभागं जम्बूद्वीपवर्षाणि बुभुजु: ॥ २१ ॥
āgnīdhra-sutās te mātur anugrahād autpattikenaiva saṁhanana-balopetāḥ pitrā vibhaktā ātma-tulya-nāmāni yathā-bhāgaṁ jambūdvīpa-varṣāṇi bubhujuḥ.
Nhờ ân phúc từ việc uống sữa mẹ, chín người con trai của Āgnīdhra tự nhiên có thân thể cường tráng, cân đối và đầy sức lực. Người cha chia các xứ khác nhau trong Jambūdvīpa cho từng người; các vương quốc ấy mang chính tên của họ. Vì vậy họ cai trị những lãnh địa do cha ban.
The ācāryas specifically mention that in this verse the words mātuḥ anugrahāt (“by the mercy of their mother”) refer to the breast milk of their mother. In India it is a common belief that if a baby is fed his mother’s milk for at least six months, his body will be very strong. Besides that, it is mentioned herein that all the sons of Āgnīdhra were endowed with the nature of their mother. Bhagavad-gītā (1.40) also declares, strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ: when women are polluted, varṇa-saṅkara, unqualified children, are generated, and when the varṇa-saṅkara population increases, the entire world becomes hellish. Therefore, according to Manu-saṁhitā, a woman needs a great deal of protection in order to remain pure and chaste so that her children can be fully engaged for the benefit of human society.
FAQs
In Canto 5, the Bhāgavatam states that King Āgnīdhra divided the regions (varṣas) of Jambūdvīpa among his sons, who then ruled their allotted lands.
This verse attributes their innate strength to the special grace and blessing of their mother, indicating divinely favored birth and fitness to rule.
It highlights gratitude for parental blessings and the principle of responsible stewardship—receiving one’s “share” and governing it dutifully rather than exploitatively.