Shloka 33
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
ततः संमन्त्र्य ते सर्वे मुनयस् तस्य भूभृतः ममन्थुर् ऊरुं पुत्रार्थम् अनपत्यस्य यत्नतः
tataḥ saṃmantrya te sarve munayas tasya bhūbhṛtaḥ mamanthur ūruṃ putrārtham anapatyasya yatnataḥ
Then, after deliberating together, all those sages—acting for that childless king—earnestly churned his thigh, seeking to bring forth a son.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: What did the sages do to remedy the kingless condition?
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Concept: When dharma is endangered, brahmarṣi authority intervenes to restore rightful governance, even through extraordinary means, for the protection of society.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: In times of institutional failure, principled leaders and communities should act collectively and lawfully to restore order and protect the vulnerable.
Vishishtadvaita: The remedial action reflects a cosmos where divine order works through empowered agents (ṛṣis) while remaining under the overarching sovereignty of Nārāyaṇa.
Dharma Exemplar: Responsibility to sustain social order (lokasaṅgraha through rightful rule).
Vishnu Form: Narayana
FAQs
It signifies a deliberate, sage-sanctioned intervention to produce progeny and restore lawful kingship when the royal line is threatened by childlessness and disorder.
Through the sages’ collective deliberation and decisive action, the narrative presents kingship as upheld by dharma and guided by enlightened authority when normal succession fails.
Even when not named in the verse, the Purana frames rightful sovereignty and lineage as part of Vishnu’s overarching preservation of cosmic and social order (dharma).