Shloka 46

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

विष्णुचिह्नं करे चक्रं सर्वेषां चक्रवर्तिनाम् भवत्य् अव्याहतो यस्य प्रभावस् त्रिदशैर् अपि

Transliteration

viṣṇucihnaṃ kare cakraṃ sarveṣāṃ cakravartinām bhavaty avyāhato yasya prabhāvas tridaśair api

Translation

Upon the hand of every universal monarch appears the discus—Viṣṇu’s own emblem; and the majesty of that sovereign, whose authority is sealed by the Lord’s sign, remains unobstructed—even by the hosts of the thirty-three gods.

Word by Word

• विष्णुचिह्नम्: Viṣṇu’s emblem
• विष्णुचिह्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘विष्णोः चिह्नम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (चक्रम् इति)

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

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; वाक्ये विषय/उद्देश्य (topic)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; विशेषण (चक्रवर्तिनाम् इति)

• चक्रवर्तिनाम्: of the universal monarchs
• चक्रवर्तिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्रवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• भवति: is/becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अव्याहतः: unobstructed
• अव्याहतः: Karta (Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्याहत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (प्रभावः इति)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• प्रभावः: might/splendour
• प्रभावः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता (भवति इति)

• त्रिदशैः: by the gods
• त्रिदशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/सहकारक

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि = ‘even/also’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya in the dynastic narrative)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimate sovereignty is ultimately grounded in alignment with Viṣṇu’s dharma, which renders authority ‘unobstructed’ even before the devas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise leadership as trusteeship under dharma—power gains stability when rooted in ethical restraint and service.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly order (rājya) is upheld as a function of the Lord’s governance, with rulers as dependent instruments (śeṣa) of Nārāyaṇa.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Sovereign protection and justice

Key Kings: Cakravartin (universal monarch)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra (Vishnu’s discus)
• Cakravartin (universal monarch)
• Tridaśa (the thirty-three devas)

FAQs

What is the significance of the chakra on the hand in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents the chakra as Vishnu’s own emblem appearing on a Cakravartin’s hand, symbolizing divine authorization and the legitimacy of universal sovereignty under dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain unimpeded royal power in this context?

Parāśara links a ruler’s “unobstructed” influence to Vishnu’s mark: when sovereignty is aligned with Vishnu’s sanction, even divine beings (the tridaśas) do not impede that ordained authority.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Vishnu is shown as the Supreme source of order who confers and upholds rightful dominion; political power is portrayed as enduring and protected when grounded in Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty.