Shloka 37
Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena
Prelude to Pṛthu
स विप्रानुमतो राजा गृहीत्वाञ्जलिनौदनम् । अवघ्राय मुदा युक्त: प्रादात्पत्न्या उदारधी: ॥ ३७ ॥
sa viprānumato rājā gṛhītvāñjalinaudanam avaghrāya mudā yuktaḥ prādāt patnyā udāra-dhīḥ
With the priests’ permission, the generous-minded King took the sacred preparation in his joined palms, smelled it with joy, and offered a portion to his wife.
The word udāra-dhīḥ is significant in this connection. The wife of the King, Sunīthā, was not fit to accept this benediction, yet the King was so liberal that without hesitation he offered to his wife the boiled rice in milk prasāda received from the yajña-puruṣa. Of course, everything is designed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As will be explained in later verses, this incident was not very favorable for the King. Since the King was very liberal, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in order to increase his detachment from this material world, willed that a cruel son be born of the Queen so that the King would have to leave home. As stated above, Lord Viṣṇu fulfills the desires of the karmīs as they desire, but the Lord fulfills the desire of a devotee in a different way so that the devotee may gradually come to Him. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā ( dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te ). The Lord gives the devotee the opportunity to make progress further and further so that he may come back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse shows the king acting only after receiving the brāhmaṇas’ approval, highlighting that righteous rulers follow spiritual and scriptural counsel rather than personal impulse.
The act indicates a ritual, auspicious domestic context—he receives the prepared food respectfully, experiences joy/approval, and then offers it to his wife as part of proper household conduct.
Seek wise, principled guidance before major decisions, and bring reverence and gratitude into everyday family duties—turning ordinary actions into dharmic, uplifting habits.