Shloka 69
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
ततो ऽथ नृपतिर् दिव्यम् आदायाजगवं धनुः शरांश् च दिव्यान् कुपितः सो ऽन्वधावद् वसुंधराम्
tato 'tha nṛpatir divyam ādāyājagavaṃ dhanuḥ śarāṃś ca divyān kupitaḥ so 'nvadhāvad vasuṃdharām
Then the king seized the celestial Ajagava bow and divine arrows; inflamed with wrath, he set off in pursuit of the Earth herself (Vasundharā).
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Concept: When the world’s balance is disturbed, the ruler may employ righteous force to compel restoration of sustenance and order.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Channel anger into disciplined duty—use firm action, bounded by ethics, to protect the vulnerable and correct systemic harm.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma includes protection (rakṣaṇa) as a sacred obligation; coercive power is legitimized only as service to the dependent world within divine law.
Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi
FAQs
It dramatizes the Purāṇic idea that kingship is responsible for restoring worldly balance—when the Earth’s order is disrupted, the ruler must act to re-establish dharma.
By highlighting divine armament and decisive pursuit, Parāśara presents kingship as a dharmic instrument—power is justified when used to protect the world’s order, not for mere conquest.
In the Vishnu Purana’s worldview, governance and cosmic stability ultimately rest on Vishnu’s sovereignty; the king’s ‘divine’ means and duty echo that higher sustaining principle (Viṣṇu as the ground of order).