Shloka 35
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
किं करोमीति तान् सर्वान् विप्रान् आह त्वरान्वितः निषीदेति तम् ऊचुस् ते निषादस् तेन सो ऽभवत्
kiṃ karomīti tān sarvān viprān āha tvarānvitaḥ niṣīdeti tam ūcus te niṣādas tena so 'bhavat
In haste he asked all those brāhmaṇas, “What am I to do?” They replied, “Sit down.” By that very command—‘niṣīda’ (“sit”)—he came to be known as a Niṣāda.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Account of Vena’s fall and the sages’ actions leading to the emergence of Niṣāda and then Pṛthu.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Speech and authoritative injunction (ājñā) are presented as causally efficacious, even generating social identity and designation.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Use words deliberately—especially in positions of authority—since commands and labels shape outcomes and character.
Vishishtadvaita: Order in society is ultimately governed by īśvara-niyati mediated through ṛṣi-led dharma (divine law working through embodied agents).
Key Kings: Vena
FAQs
This verse gives an etymological explanation: the label “Niṣāda” is derived from the command “niṣīda” (“sit down”), showing how a spoken injunction becomes an identity-marker in the narrative.
Parāśara frames it through performative speech: a brief exchange with the brāhmaṇas results in a lasting designation, reflecting Purāṇic ideas that dharma, words, and authoritative counsel can shape social and genealogical outcomes.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana’s dynastic accounts are presented as unfolding within Vishnu’s sovereign order (dharma and cosmic governance), where lineage and social roles operate under the overarching structure of divine regulation.