Shloka 61

Devanagari script

सत्यवाग् दानशीलो ऽयं सत्यसन्धो नरेश्वरः ह्रीमान् मैत्रः क्षमाशीलो विक्रान्तो दुष्टशासनः

Transliteration

satyavāg dānaśīlo 'yaṃ satyasandho nareśvaraḥ hrīmān maitraḥ kṣamāśīlo vikrānto duṣṭaśāsanaḥ

Translation

This lord of men is a speaker of truth and devoted to giving; steadfast in his pledges, he is modest and gracious, friendly to all, patient in forbearance—yet bold in valor, and a stern chastiser of the wicked.

Word by Word

• सत्यवाक्: truth-speaking
• सत्यवाक्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + वाच् (प्रातिपदिक; वाच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य वाक् सत्यं सः)

• दानशीलः: generous, given to giving
• दानशीलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दानस्य शीलं यस्य)

• अयम्: this (man/king)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सत्यसन्धः: true to his pledge, faithful
• सत्यसन्धः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + सन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सत्यः सन्धः)

• नरेश्वरः: lord of men, king
• नरेश्वरः: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• ह्रीमान्: modest, possessing shame (sense of propriety)
• ह्रीमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मैत्रः: friendly, benevolent
• मैत्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्षमाशीलः: forbearing, patient
• क्षमाशीलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षमायाः शीलं यस्य)

• विक्रान्तः: valiant, mighty-striding
• विक्रान्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-क्रम् (धातु) → विक्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दुष्टशासनः: punisher of the wicked
• दुष्टशासनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दुष्टानां शासनः/शासकः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What virtues define Pṛthu as ideal ruler (nareśvara) and how bards articulate them.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: didactic and exemplary

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rājadharma integrates satya, dāna, kṣamā, and controlled vīrya so that power serves justice rather than ego.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate truthfulness and generosity while enforcing boundaries against harm—firmness without malice in leadership and daily conduct.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical governance is a form of service to Bhagavān’s order (niyati), where the ruler functions as a responsible agent within the Lord’s cosmos.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Satya (truthfulness) and dāna (generosity)

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• An ideal king (nareśvara)
• The wicked (duṣṭa)

FAQs

What is the significance of truthfulness and charity in the Vishnu Purana’s view of kingship?

This verse frames the ideal ruler as satyavāk (truth-speaking) and dānaśīla (generous), implying that public order and legitimacy arise from moral integrity and giving, not merely power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the balance between forgiveness and punishment?

By pairing kṣamāśīla (forbearing) with duṣṭaśāsana (chastiser of the wicked), Parāśara presents royal dharma as compassionate toward the deserving while firm against wrongdoing to protect societal order.

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

In the Vishnu Purana’s worldview, righteous sovereignty mirrors cosmic governance: a king upholding truth, restraint, and justice participates in dharma, ultimately rooted in Vishnu as the sustaining principle of order.