Shloka 9

Vamsha of Dhruva and Prithu; Daksha’s Progeny; Enumerations of Devas, Asuras, Nagas, and Birds

Devanagari script

दुदोह पृथिवीं राजा प्रजानां जीवनाय हि / अन्तर्धानः पृथोः पुत्रो तहविर्धानस्तदात्मजः

Transliteration

dudoha pṛthivīṃ rājā prajānāṃ jīvanāya hi / antardhānaḥ pṛthoḥ putro tahavirdhānastadātmajaḥ

Translation

For the very sustenance of the people, the king “milked” the Earth. Antardhāna was the son of Pṛthu, and Havirdhāna was his son.

Word by Word

• दुदोह: milked
• दुदोह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दुह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पृथिवीम्: the earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects/creatures
• प्रजानाम्: Sambandha (Purpose beneficiary/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• जीवनाय: for livelihood/sustenance
• जीवनाय: Sampradāna (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake of)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• अन्तर्धानः: Antardhāna (name)
• अन्तर्धानः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर्धान (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पृथोः: of Pṛthu
• पृथोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तहविर्धानः: Tahavirdhāna (name)
• तहविर्धानः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तहविर्धान (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-नाम

• तदात्मजः: his son
• तदात्मजः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक; तद् + आत्मज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tasya ātmajaḥ = ‘his son’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the broader dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma as productive action: the ruler must draw resources from Earth in a regulated, life-sustaining way for prajā.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: action for loka-saṅgraha without exploitative intent; harmony between human order and cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Stewardship ethics: extract resources with restraint, reinvest in public welfare, and maintain ecological balance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-terrestrial domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.6.8 (Pṛthu’s divine origin); Garuda Purana 1.6.10–11 (descendants leading to Prācetas)

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu
• Antardhāna
• Havirdhāna
• Pṛthivī (Earth)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'milking of the Earth' motif in the Garuda Purana?

It symbolizes righteous kingship (rājadharma): the ruler ensures prosperity by drawing resources from the land responsibly for the people’s sustenance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not address the post-death journey; it situates the narrative in royal lineage and dharmic governance, which forms the ethical backdrop for later teachings on karma and consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat leadership and stewardship as service: manage resources ethically so that communities can live and thrive.