Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 7

The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच श्रूयतां मानवो वंश: प्राचुर्येण परन्तप । न शक्यते विस्तरतो वक्तुं वर्षशतैरपि ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca śrūyatāṁ mānavo vaṁśaḥ prācuryeṇa parantapa na śakyate vistarato vaktuṁ varṣa-śatair api

Translation

舒迦提婆继续说：噢，降伏敌者之王，请丰广地聆听摩奴的王统。我将尽力详述；然而即使历经数百年，也无法把它的全部细节说尽。

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (honorific + name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śrūyatām: let it be heard
• śrūyatām: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive imperative)

• mānavaḥ: of Manu / human (Manu’s)
• mānavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• prācuryeṇa: due to abundance
• prācuryeṇa: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācurya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (by reason of abundance)

• parantapa: O scorcher of enemies
• parantapa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parantapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘परान् तपयति’ (scorcher of foes)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• śakyate: is possible
• śakyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• vistarataḥ: in detail
• vistarataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘in detail/at length’

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive)

• varṣa-śataiḥ: even with hundreds of years
• varṣa-śataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/द्विगु-भावार्थः ‘वर्षाणां शतानि’ (hundreds of years)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (even/also)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Manu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the dynasty of Manu (Mānava vaṁśa)?

This verse says Manu’s dynasty is extremely vast and cannot be fully described even over hundreds of years, indicating the Bhagavatam will present it in a concise, essential form.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is preparing Parīkṣit for a condensed narration of the royal genealogies—signaling that the coming account is selective, focusing on spiritually significant kings and events rather than exhaustive detail.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It encourages focusing on the essence: learn history and tradition for dharma and devotion, without getting lost in endless details that distract from spiritual purpose.