Shloka 53
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
स्तूयताम् एष नृपतिः पृथुर् वैन्यः प्रतापवान् कर्मैतद् अनुरूपं च पात्रं स्तोत्रस्य चाप्य् अयम्
stūyatām eṣa nṛpatiḥ pṛthur vainyaḥ pratāpavān karmaitad anurūpaṃ ca pātraṃ stotrasya cāpy ayam
Let this king—Pṛthu, the mighty son of Vena—be praised. This deed is wholly in keeping with his nature, and he himself is a worthy vessel for such a hymn of acclaim.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Concept: Praise is appropriate when it aligns with genuine virtue and righteous action; the worthy recipient of stotra is one whose deeds embody dharma.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Offer recognition based on integrity and service; let public honor reinforce ethical leadership rather than power alone.
Vishishtadvaita: Righteous kingship is a delegated stewardship under the Supreme Lord; honoring dharmic action becomes an indirect honoring of the Lord’s order.
Dharma Exemplar: Rājadharma (protector-king ideal)
Key Kings: Pṛthu, Vena
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse presents Pṛthu as an archetype of righteous sovereignty—his actions align with dharma, making public praise (stotra) both appropriate and spiritually meaningful.
Parāśara ties praise to merit: the deed is ‘anurūpa’ (fitting) and the person is ‘pātra’ (a worthy recipient), implying that acclaim should follow dharmic action rather than mere status.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s framework treats righteous kingship as participation in Vishnu’s sustaining order—dharma in governance reflects the Supreme Preserver’s cosmic sovereignty.