Shloka 45

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

हस्ते तु दक्षिणे चक्रं दृष्ट्वा तस्य पितामहः विष्णोर् अंशं पृथुं मत्वा परितोषं परं ययौ

Transliteration

haste tu dakṣiṇe cakraṃ dṛṣṭvā tasya pitāmahaḥ viṣṇor aṃśaṃ pṛthuṃ matvā paritoṣaṃ paraṃ yayau

Translation

But when his grandfather beheld the discus-mark upon his right hand, he knew Pṛthu to be a portion of Lord Viṣṇu Himself, and his heart rose into the highest contentment.

Word by Word

• हस्ते: in the hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• दक्षिणे: in the right (hand)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (haste इति)

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having seen’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• पितामहः: the grandsire (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• अंशम्: a portion
• अंशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

• पृथुम्: Pṛthu
• पृथुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘अंशम्’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (apposition)

• मत्वा: having deemed
• मत्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having considered/knowing’

• परितोषम्: satisfaction
• परितोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परितोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (ययौ इति)

• परम्: supreme/great
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (परितोषम् इति)

• ययौ: went/attained
• ययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Purpose: Pṛthu is recognized as a partial manifestation (aṃśa) of Viṣṇu to restore righteous kingship and secure the welfare of subjects.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Rāja-dharma and protection/nourishment of prajā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s presence is discerned through His unmistakable signs, and recognizing Viṣṇu’s aṃśa inspires serene trust.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate reverent discernment and see dharmic leadership/service as a channel of the divine.

Vishishtadvaita: Viṣṇu’s power can manifest in embodied agents (aṃśa) while remaining the transcendent Lord.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Righteous sovereignty (rāja-dharma)

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Prithu
• Pitamaha (grandfather)

FAQs

What is the significance of the cakra mark in the Vishnu Purana?

The cakra is a distinctive emblem of Lord Vishnu; seeing it on Pṛthu’s right hand signals divine authorization, marking him as a Vishnu-aṃśa and legitimizing his role as a dharmic king.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Pṛthu’s status in this passage?

Parāśara presents a bodily sign (the cakra) as narrative proof that Pṛthu is a portion of Vishnu, showing how divine presence manifests to restore order through righteous rulership.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is portrayed as the supreme sustaining power whose sovereignty extends into history—manifesting as partial incarnations to uphold dharma and stabilize the world through ideal kings.