Shloka 63

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च व्यवहारस्थितौ नृपः

Transliteration

samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca vyavahārasthitau nṛpaḥ

Translation

A king, established in the proper conduct of governance and justice, remains even-minded toward both enemy and friend—letting neither hatred nor attachment bend his rule.

Word by Word

• समः: equal, impartial
• समः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शत्रौ: toward/in the case of an enemy
• शत्रौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

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

• मित्रे: toward/in the case of a friend
• मित्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

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

• व्यवहारस्थितौ: in matters of conduct/transactions
• व्यवहारस्थितौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवहार + स्थित (प्रातिपदिक; √स्था → स्थित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) + तत्पुरुष (व्यवहारे स्थितः)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, within a rāja-dharma passage)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: The king’s impartial administration of justice as a hallmark of dharmic rule.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: aphoristic and instructive

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True governance requires samatā—freedom from rāga-dveṣa—so that judgment follows dharma rather than personal attachment.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: In decision-making, separate relationships from principles; create transparent rules and apply them consistently.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical impartiality reflects alignment with the Lord’s inner governance (niyantṛtva) without claiming autonomy from Him.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Samatā (equanimity and impartial justice)

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kings
• Enemy
• Friend

FAQs

What is the significance of impartiality toward friend and enemy in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents impartiality as a core royal virtue: the king must uphold dharma through lawful administration, not through personal likes, loyalties, or grudges.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper governance (vyavahāra) in this context?

Parāśara frames governance as disciplined adherence to right procedure—justice and statecraft grounded in dharma—where the ruler’s equanimity prevents bias in decisions.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even though He is not named?

In the Vishnu Purana’s dharma-vision, righteous sovereignty mirrors cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu; impartial rule becomes a worldly expression of that higher, sustaining principle.