Shloka 42
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
सत्पुत्रेण च जातेन वेनो ऽपि त्रिदिवं ययौ पुन्नाम्नो नरकात् त्रातः स तेन सुमहात्मना
satputreṇa ca jātena veno 'pi tridivaṃ yayau punnāmno narakāt trātaḥ sa tena sumahātmanā
And because a righteous son was born to him, even Vena attained the heavenly worlds. Rescued from the hell called Punnāma, he was delivered by that great-souled son.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Concept: Righteous progeny and dharmic action can uplift even a fallen forebear, illustrating the transgenerational efficacy of karma and pitṛ-obligations.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Honor ancestors through responsible living, gratitude, and (where culturally appropriate) śrāddha/charity; prioritize dharma so one’s life becomes a support for family and society.
Vishishtadvaita: Merit operates within the Lord-governed moral order (niyati); grace and law are not opposed—deliverance is mediated through dharmic means.
Dharma Exemplar: Putra-dharma (filial piety through righteous conduct and rites)
Key Kings: Vena, Pṛthu (Vainya)
FAQs
This verse uses Punnāma as a doctrinal image for the consequences of adharma, while also asserting that ancestral deliverance can occur through the merit and righteousness of a worthy son (here, Pṛthu).
In the Parāśara–Maitreya dialogue, Parāśara frames royal history as moral instruction: even a fallen king (Vena) can be lifted when dharma re-enters the lineage through an exemplary successor.
Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the narrative arc aligns with Vaishnava providence: dharmic order and rightful sovereignty are restored through a divinely sanctioned ruler (Pṛthu), reflecting Vishnu’s overarching governance of cosmic and social order.