Adhyaya 16

Verse 1

मैत्रेय उवाच इति ब्रुवाणं नृपतिं गायका मुनिचोदिता: । तुष्टुवुस्तुष्टमनसस्तद्वागमृतसेवया ॥ १ ॥

The great sage Maitreya said: As King Pṛthu spoke in this way, the reciters—urged on by the great sages—were delighted by the humility in his nectar-like words. Then they again continued to glorify the King with exalted prayers.

Verse 2

नालं वयं ते महिमानुवर्णने यो देववर्योऽवततार मायया । वेनाङ्गजातस्य च पौरुषाणि ते वाचस्पतीनामपि बभ्रमुर्धिय: ॥ २ ॥

The sūtas said: O King, you are a direct incarnation of the Supreme Lord, Śrī Viṣṇu, descended to this earth by His causeless mercy. Therefore we are not able to describe Your greatness as it truly is. Though You have appeared through the body of King Vena, even Brahmā, the demigods, and the greatest orators cannot precisely recount the glory of Your deeds.

Verse 3

अथाप्युदारश्रवस: पृथोर्हरे: कलावतारस्य कथामृताद‍ृता: । यथोपदेशं मुनिभि: प्रचोदिता: श्लाघ्यानि कर्माणि वयं वितन्महि ॥ ३ ॥

Yet even so, we relish the nectar of narrations about Mahārāja Pṛthu, the celebrated partial incarnation of Hari. Urged on by the instructions of authoritative sages, we shall attempt to unfold his praiseworthy deeds—though whatever we say will ever remain inadequate.

Verse 4

एष धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो लोकं धर्मेऽनुवर्तयन् । गोप्ता च धर्मसेतूनां शास्ता तत्परिपन्थिनाम् ॥ ४ ॥

This King, Mahārāja Pṛthu, is the foremost among the upholders of dharma. He will lead the world to follow righteousness, protect the bridges of dharma, and sternly punish the irreligious and atheistic.

Verse 5

एष वै लोकपालानां बिभर्त्येकस्तनौ तनू: । काले काले यथाभागं लोकयोरुभयोर्हितम् ॥ ५ ॥

This King alone, within his own body, will at various times uphold the functions of the world-protectors, manifesting diverse forms to carry out their respective duties for the welfare of both realms.

Verse 6

वसु काल उपादत्ते काले चायं विमुञ्चति । सम: सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रतपन् सूर्यवद्विभु: ॥ ६ ॥

King Pṛthu will be powerful like the sun-god. As the sun shines equally upon all, he will bestow mercy impartially on every being. And just as the sun draws up water for many months and returns it abundantly in the rainy season, he will collect taxes from the citizens and give them back in times of need.

Verse 7

तितिक्षत्यक्रमं वैन्य उपर्याक्रमतामपि । भूतानां करुण: शश्वदार्तानां क्षितिवृत्तिमान् ॥ ७ ॥

King Pṛthu, the son of Vainya, will be ever compassionate to all citizens. Even if some poor man violates the rules as though trampling upon the king’s very head, he will, by causeless mercy, forget and forgive. As guardian of the world, he will be tolerant like the earth itself.

Verse 8

देवेऽवर्षत्यसौ देवो नरदेववपुर्हरि: । कृच्छ्रप्राणा: प्रजा ह्येष रक्षिष्यत्यञ्जसेन्द्रवत् ॥ ८ ॥

When the gods withhold rain and the people’s lives are endangered by lack of water, this king—Hari in the form of a royal ruler—will supply rainfall like Indra himself. Thus he will easily protect the citizens from drought.

Verse 9

आप्याययत्यसौ लोकं वदनामृतमूर्तिना । सानुरागावलोकेन विशदस्मितचारुणा ॥ ९ ॥

King Pṛthu, by his nectarean countenance, his affectionate glances, and his clear, charming smile, will nourish the world. His loving gaze will increase the peaceful life of all.

Verse 10

अव्यक्तवर्त्मैष निगूढकार्योगम्भीरवेधा उपगुप्तवित्त: । अनन्तमाहात्म्यगुणैकधामापृथु: प्रचेता इव संवृतात्मा ॥ १० ॥

The reciters continued: No one will be able to discern the course of policy this king will follow. His deeds will be deeply confidential, and none will know how he brings every undertaking to success; even his treasury will remain hidden from all. Pṛthu will be the sole abode of limitless glories and virtues, and, like Varuṇa—lord of the seas—who is covered on every side by water, he will keep his position protected and veiled, inwardly contained like Pracetas.

Verse 11

दुरासदो दुर्विषह आसन्नोऽपि विदूरवत् । नैवाभिभवितुं शक्यो वेनारण्युत्थितोऽनल: ॥ ११ ॥

King Pṛthu will be unapproachable and unbearable to his enemies. Though near at hand, he will seem far away to them. Born from the dead body of King Vena like fire produced from araṇi wood, no one will be able to overcome his strength, and foes will be unable to draw near even when close by.

Verse 12

अन्तर्बहिश्च भूतानां पश्यन् कर्माणि चारणै: । उदासीन इवाध्यक्षो वायुरात्मेव देहिनाम् ॥ १२ ॥

King Pṛthu, through his agents, will behold the inner and outer deeds of all his citizens; yet none will discern his secret intelligence. Amid praise and blame he will remain impartial—like the life-air within the body, present within and without, yet ever neutral in all affairs.

Verse 13

नादण्ड्यं दण्डयत्येष सुतमात्मद्विषामपि । दण्डयत्यात्मजमपि दण्ड्यं धर्मपथे स्थित: ॥ १३ ॥

Steadfast on the path of dharma, the king will not punish even an enemy’s son if he is not punishable; yet if his own son deserves punishment, he will chastise him at once. In justice he will be equal and without bias.

Verse 14

अस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रं पृथोरामानसाचलात् । वर्तते भगवानर्को यावत्तपति गोगणै: ॥ १४ ॥

As the sun-god spreads his radiant beams to the Arctic without hindrance, so King Pṛthu’s unimpeded influence will cover all lands up to the Arctic and remain undisturbed for as long as he lives.

Verse 15

रञ्जयिष्यति यल्लोकमयमात्मविचेष्टितै: । अथामुमाहू राजानं मनोरञ्जनकै: प्रजा: ॥ १५ ॥

By his practical deeds this king will delight the people, and his citizens will remain fully satisfied. Therefore, charmed by his pleasing qualities, they will gladly accept him as their ruling monarch.

Verse 16

द‍ृढव्रत: सत्यसन्धो ब्रह्मण्यो वृद्धसेवक: । शरण्य: सर्वभूतानां मानदो दीनवत्सल: ॥ १६ ॥

The king will be firm in vow and steadfast in truth, devoted to brahminical culture and a servant of the elders. He will be a refuge for all surrendered beings, offer respect to everyone, and ever show compassion to the poor and the innocent.

Verse 17

मातृभक्ति: परस्त्रीषु पत्‍न्यामर्ध इवात्मन: । प्रजासु पितृवत्स्‍निग्ध: किङ्करो ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥ १७ ॥

That king will honor all other women as mothers and regard his own wife as the other half of his body. To the citizens he will be like an affectionate father, and he will deem himself the obedient servant of the Lord’s devotees who proclaim His glories.

Verse 18

देहिनामात्मवत्प्रेष्ठ: सुहृदां नन्दिवर्धन: । मुक्तसङ्गप्रसङ्गोऽयं दण्डपाणिरसाधुषु ॥ १८ ॥

That king will hold all embodied beings as dear as his own self and will ever increase the joy of his friends. He will keep close company with liberated souls, and to the impious he will be a chastising hand.

Verse 19

अयं तु साक्षाद्भगवांस्त्र्यधीश:कूटस्थ आत्मा कलयावतीर्ण: । यस्मिन्नविद्यारचितं निरर्थकंपश्यन्ति नानात्वमपि प्रतीतम् ॥ १९ ॥

This king is the lord of the three worlds, directly empowered by Bhagavān; the changeless, steady Self descended in part as a śaktyāveśa-avatāra. Being liberated and fully learned, he beholds all material variety—though it appears—as meaningless, for its root is nescience.

Verse 20

अयं भुवो मण्डलमोदयाद्रे-र्गोप्तैकवीरो नरदेवनाथ: । आस्थाय जैत्रं रथमात्तचाप:पर्यस्यते दक्षिणतो यथार्क: ॥ २० ॥

This king, the sole heroic guardian of the earth, will have no rival. Riding his victorious chariot with his invincible bow in hand, he will circle the globe like the sun moving on its course from the south.

Verse 21

अस्मै नृपाला: किल तत्र तत्रबलिं हरिष्यन्ति सलोकपाला: । मंस्यन्त एषां स्त्रिय आदिराजंचक्रायुधं तद्यश उद्धरन्त्य: ॥ २१ ॥

As the king journeys throughout the world, other kings and the guardians of the realms will offer him tribute and gifts in every place. Their queens too will regard him as the original sovereign, bearing the mace and disc, and will sing his fame, for his renown will be as exalted as that of Bhagavān.

Verse 22

अयं महीं गां दुदुहेऽधिराज:प्रजापतिर्वृत्तिकर: प्रजानाम् । यो लीलयाद्रीन् स्वशरासकोट्याभिन्दन् समां गामकरोद्यथेन्द्र: ॥ २२ ॥

This great king, guardian of the people, is equal to the Prajāpatis. For the livelihood of all, he will milk the earth as one milks a cow; and like Indra he will shatter the hills with the sharp tip of his bow and make the land level.

Verse 23

विस्फूर्जयन्नाजगवं धनु: स्वयंयदाचरत्क्ष्मामविषह्यमाजौ । तदा निलिल्युर्दिशि दिश्यसन्तोलाङ्गूलमुद्यम्य यथा मृगेन्द्र: ॥ २३ ॥

When he himself makes the Ajagava bowstring thunder and, irresistible in battle, travels throughout his realm, the demoniac rogues and thieves will hide in every direction—just as lesser beasts vanish when a lion strides through the forest with tail held high.

Verse 24

एषोऽश्वमेधाञ् शतमाजहारसरस्वती प्रादुरभावि यत्र । अहार्षीद्यस्य हयं पुरन्दर:शतक्रतुश्चरमे वर्तमाने ॥ २४ ॥

At the source of the Sarasvatī River, this king will perform one hundred aśvamedha sacrifices. During the final sacrifice, Indra—Purandara, famed as Śatakratu—will steal the sacrificial horse.

Verse 25

एष स्वसद्मोपवने समेत्यसनत्कुमारं भगवन्तमेकम् । आराध्य भक्त्यालभतामलं तज्ज्ञानं यतो ब्रह्म परं विदन्ति ॥ २५ ॥

In the garden of his palace, King Pṛthu will meet Bhagavān Sanat-kumāra, one of the four Kumāras. Worshiping him with bhakti, he will receive spotless knowledge by which the Supreme Brahman is realized and transcendental bliss is tasted.

Verse 26

तत्र तत्र गिरस्तास्ता इति विश्रुतविक्रम: । श्रोष्यत्यात्माश्रिता गाथा: पृथु: पृथुपराक्रम: ॥ २६ ॥

Thus, when King Pṛthu’s chivalrous deeds become renowned among the people, Pṛthu—mighty in valor—will continually hear songs and narratives centered upon himself, celebrating his uniquely powerful acts.

Verse 27

दिशो विजित्याप्रतिरुद्धचक्र:स्वतेजसोत्पाटितलोकशल्य: । सुरासुरेन्द्रैरुपगीयमानमहानुभावो भविता पतिर्भुव: ॥ २७ ॥

No one will be able to defy the command of Mahārāja Pṛthu. Having conquered the world, he will, by his own radiant power, uproot the citizens’ threefold miseries. Then his fame will spread everywhere, and the lords of the devas and the asuras will surely sing of his magnanimous deeds.