Shloka 72

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

ततस् तं प्राह वसुधा पृथुं पृथुपराक्रमम् प्रवेपमाना तद्बाणपरित्राणपरायणा

Transliteration

tatas taṃ prāha vasudhā pṛthuṃ pṛthuparākramam pravepamānā tadbāṇaparitrāṇaparāyaṇā

Translation

Then Vasudhā, trembling and intent on seeking protection from his arrows, addressed Pṛthu, whose valor was vast and formidable.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘ततः’ (then)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• prāha: said/spoke
• prāha: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vasudhā: the Earth
• vasudhā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pṛthum: Pṛthu
• pṛthum: Karma (Addressee as object of speech/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛthu (प्रातिपदिक; विशेषनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• pṛthuparākramam: mighty/valorous
• pṛthuparākramam: Karma (Qualifier of pṛthum/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pṛthu + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी) ‘पृथोः पराक्रमः यस्य’ (of great valor like Pṛthu / having mighty prowess)

• pravepamānā: trembling
• pravepamānā: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vep (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) — ‘प्रवेपमाना’ (trembling)

• tad-bāṇa-paritrāṇa-parāyaṇā: seeking refuge/protection from his arrows
• tad-bāṇa-paritrāṇa-parāyaṇā: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + bāṇa + paritrāṇa + parāyaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी) ‘तस्य (पृथोः) बाणेभ्यः परित्राणे परायणा’ (intent on protection from his arrows)

Speaker

Vasudhā (Earth personified), as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even cosmic powers submit to rightful authority when it is aligned with protection and order, showing Dharma as a binding principle for all.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When confronting disorder, combine firmness with openness to dialogue; seek protective outcomes rather than vengeance.

Vishishtadvaita: The world (Bhū) is a dependent reality that seeks refuge under divinely ordered governance; dependence (śeṣatva) is implicit in ‘paritrāṇa’ (seeking protection).

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Kṣātra-tejas tempered by responsibility

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: dasya

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Characters & Entities

• Vasudhā (Earth)
• King Pṛthu

FAQs

What is the significance of Earth (Vasudhā) trembling before King Pṛthu in the Vishnu Purana?

It signifies the world’s disorder being confronted by righteous authority—Earth submits when sovereignty is exercised to restore dharma and protect beings.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the role of a king through the episode of Pṛthu?

Through Pṛthu, Parāśara presents kingship as a dharmic mandate: the ruler’s power compels chaos to yield, but its purpose is protection and the re-ordering of society and nature.

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

Pṛthu functions as a paradigmatic, divinely sanctioned sovereign—reflecting Vishnu’s supreme governance where power is ultimately for preservation, stability, and the welfare of the world.