Shloka 4
The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise
अयं तु प्रथमो राज्ञां पुमान् प्रथयिता यश: । पृथुर्नाम महाराजो भविष्यति पृथुश्रवा: ॥ ४ ॥
ayaṁ tu prathamo rājñāṁ pumān prathayitā yaśaḥ pṛthur nāma mahārājo bhaviṣyati pṛthu-śravāḥ
Of the two, the male will be foremost among kings and will spread his fame throughout the world. His name will be Pṛthu; he will become the great king Pṛthuśravā.
There are different types of incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the śāstras it is said that Garuḍa (the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu) and Lord Śiva and Ananta are all very powerful incarnations of the Brahman feature of the Lord. Similarly, Śacīpati, or Indra, the King of heaven, is an incarnation of the lusty feature of the Lord. Aniruddha is an incarnation of the Lord’s mind. Similarly, King Pṛthu is an incarnation of the ruling force of the Lord. Thus the saintly persons and great sages predicted the future activities of King Pṛthu, who was already explained as a partial incarnation of a plenary expansion of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse foretells that Pṛthu will become a foremost king whose glory will spread widely, earning him the epithet Pṛthuśravāḥ—one whose fame is heard everywhere.
In the narrative of Canto 4, Śukadeva is introducing Pṛthu’s destined role as an exemplary ruler—an ideal standard of royal conduct and celebrated leadership.
It highlights that lasting reputation arises from principled duty and service; when one acts responsibly in their role, respect and good name naturally expand.