Shloka 59

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

यद् इमौ वर्जनीयं च किंचिद् अत्र वदिष्यतः तद् अहं वर्जयिष्यामीत्य् एवं चक्रे मतिं नृपः

Transliteration

yad imau varjanīyaṃ ca kiṃcid atra vadiṣyataḥ tad ahaṃ varjayiṣyāmīty evaṃ cakre matiṃ nṛpaḥ

Translation

“Whatever these two (speech and mind) may utter here that ought to be avoided, that I shall avoid.” Thus the king settled his mind in restraint and right order.

Word by Word

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम् (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative)

• इमौ: these two
• इमौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• वर्जनीयम्: to be avoided
• वर्जनीयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जनीय (प्रातिपदिक; √वृज्/वर्ज् + अनीयर्)
• Form: अनीयर्-कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (gerundive: 'to be avoided'), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• किञ्चित्: something
• किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Nom/Acc), एकवचनम् (Singular); अनिश्चितार्थक (indefinite: 'something')

• अत्र: here/in this
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb)

• वदिष्यतः: will say (the two will say)
• वदिष्यतः: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (सन्दर्भतः), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• वर्जयिष्यामि: will avoid
• वर्जयिष्यामि: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तम-पुरुषः (1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्ययम् (manner adverb: 'thus')

• चक्रे: made/formed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• मतिम्: intention/resolve
• मतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• नृपः: king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One should consciously renounce (varjayet) what is unfit in speech and intention, establishing right order through inner restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice ‘speech-audit’: pause before speaking, remove harshness/exaggeration, and align words with truth and benefit.

Vishishtadvaita: Self-restraint is a form of service (śeṣatva) to the Lord’s order: the individual disciplines faculties as belonging to and meant for Bhagavān.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Dama (restraint/self-control)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• King (nṛpa)
• Two speakers (imau)

FAQs

What is the significance of restraint (varjana) in the Vishnu Purana’s dynastic narratives?

This verse presents kingship as moral governance: the ruler preserves dharma by consciously rejecting counsel or speech that is improper, even before it takes effect.

How does Sage Parāśara explain right judgment in a king’s conduct here?

By highlighting the king’s inner resolve (mati), Parāśara frames dharma as an internal discipline—choosing what to avoid is as important as choosing what to do.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview assumes dharma as the sustaining order of the Supreme; a king’s restraint aligns rule with that Vishnu-grounded cosmic sovereignty.