Shloka 15

Devanagari script

ततस् तम् ऋषयः पूर्वं संपूज्य पृथिवीपतिम् ऊचुः सामकलं सम्यङ् मैत्रेय समुपस्थिताः

Transliteration

tatas tam ṛṣayaḥ pūrvaṃ saṃpūjya pṛthivīpatim ūcuḥ sāmakalaṃ samyaṅ maitreya samupasthitāḥ

Translation

Then those sages, having first duly honoured the king, lord of the earth, O Maitreya, approached, took their proper seats, and spoke to him in full and fitting measure.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (ablatival adverb: ‘thereupon/then’)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन — सर्वनाम

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

• पूर्वम्: first, beforehand
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘पूर्वम्’ (formerly/first)

• संपूज्य: having worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/Adverbial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having duly worshipped’

• पृथिवीपतिम्: lord of the earth (king)
• पृथिवीपतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पृथिव्याः पतिः)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• सामकलम्: in a conciliatory manner
• सामकलम्: Kriya (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साम + कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘सामकलम्’ (gently/with conciliation)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘properly/rightly’

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

• समुपस्थिताः: having approached, present
• समुपस्थिताः: Karta (Appositive to subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + उप + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) — पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having approached/being present’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Narration of events around a pṛthivīpati as sages approach, honor him, and begin counsel regarding dharmic kingship and ritual.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is transmitted through proper humility and honor: sages first worship the king in his role as protector, then instruct him for the good of the realm.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Approach counsel with respect and right context; leaders should receive guidance with composure and readiness to serve the common good.

Vishishtadvaita: Social order is upheld as service to the Lord’s body (jagat) through honoring dharmic roles within His immanent governance.

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Rishis (Sages)

FAQs

What is the significance of sages first honoring the king in the Vishnu Purana?

It underscores dharma-based sovereignty: spiritual authority (ṛṣis) and temporal authority (king) operate in mutual respect, allowing righteous counsel to guide governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the flow of teaching in this narrative setting?

Parāśara signals a formal transition—sages assemble, pay respects, and then speak “properly and completely”—a Purāṇic pattern that frames the next instruction or genealogical episode as authoritative.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the verse reflects Vishnu Purana’s view that legitimate kingship and social order function under the higher, sustaining cosmic rule ultimately grounded in Vishnu as Supreme Reality.