Shloka 10
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
किमर्थं मथितः पाणिर् वेनस्य परमर्षिभिः यत्र जज्ञे महावीर्यः स पृथुर् मुनिसत्तम
kimarthaṃ mathitaḥ pāṇir venasya paramarṣibhiḥ yatra jajñe mahāvīryaḥ sa pṛthur munisattama
O best of sages, for what purpose did the supreme seers churn the hand of Vena, from which was born Pṛthu of mighty valor?
Maitreya (questioning Sage Parāśara)
Speaker: Maitreya
Topic: Purpose of the sages’ churning of Vena’s hand/arm and the birth of Pṛthu from it.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: inquisitive; prompts authoritative narrative explanation
Dharma Exemplar: Pṛthu (anticipated) as rājarṣi who restores righteous kingship and prosperity
Key Kings: Vena, Pṛthu
FAQs
It signifies a deliberate, dharma-driven intervention by the ṛṣis to manifest a rightful sovereign—Pṛthu—so that social and cosmic order can be restored after Vena’s unrighteous rule.
Through Maitreya’s question, the narrative frames kingship as a sacred function: when adharma disrupts order, the guardians of tradition (ṛṣis) act so that a dharmic ruler arises and governance realigns with universal law.
Though not named in this verse, the episode functions within a Vishnu-centered worldview where righteous kingship and stability ultimately reflect the sustaining power of the Supreme—Vishnu—as the ground of order (dharma) in the world.