Shloka 3

The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise

Devanagari script

ऋषय ऊचु: एष विष्णोर्भगवत: कला भुवनपालिनी । इयं च लक्ष्म्या: सम्भूति: पुरुषस्यानपायिनी ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ eṣa viṣṇor bhagavataḥ kalā bhuvana-pālinī iyaṁ ca lakṣmyāḥ sambhūtiḥ puruṣasyānapāyinī

Translation

The sages said: This man is a portion of the potency of Bhagavān Viṣṇu, the protector of all worlds; and this woman is a partial manifestation of Śrī Lakṣmī, who is never separated from the Lord.

Synonyms

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• एषः: this (person)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• भगवतः: of the Blessed Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विष्णोः)

• कला: a portion/manifestation
• कला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भुवनपालिनी: protector of the worlds
• भुवनपालिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुवन + पालिनी (प्रातिपदिक; पालिनी from पाल् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कला)

• इयम्: this (lady)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• लक्ष्म्याः: of Lakṣmī
• लक्ष्म्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सम्भूतिः: manifestation/origin
• सम्भूतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भूति (प्रातिपदिक; from सम्+भू धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुरुषस्य: of the Supreme Person
• पुरुषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अनपायिनी: inseparable; not departing
• अनपायिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनपायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सम्भूतिः/इयम्)

Purport

The significance of the goddess of fortune’s never being separated from the Lord is clearly mentioned herein. People in the material world are very fond of the goddess of fortune, and they want her favor in the form of riches. They should know, however, that the goddess of fortune is inseparable from Lord Viṣṇu. Materialists should understand that the goddess of fortune should be worshiped along with Lord Viṣṇu and should not be regarded separately. Materialists seeking the favor of the goddess of fortune must worship Lord Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī together to maintain material opulence. If a materialist follows the policy of Rāvaṇa, who wanted to separate Sītā from Lord Rāmacandra, the process of separation will vanquish him. Those who are very rich and have taken favor of the goddess of fortune in this world must engage their money in the service of the Lord. In this way they can continue in their opulent position without disturbance.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Lakṣmī
• Puruṣa (Supreme Person)
• Pṛthu (implied as ‘eṣaḥ’ in context)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Pṛthu Mahārāja being an incarnation of Viṣṇu?

This verse identifies him as a kalā—an empowered partial expansion of Lord Viṣṇu—destined to protect and govern the worlds.

Why do the sages describe Lakṣmī as inseparable from the Supreme Person?

Because Lakṣmī is the Lord’s eternal divine fortune (śrī), always accompanying Him; her appearance with the Lord’s representative signals auspicious, dharmic rule.

How can the teaching of “bhuvana-pālinī” be applied in modern life?

It highlights leadership as protection and stewardship—using one’s power or position to uphold welfare, order, and righteousness rather than exploitation.