Shloka 76

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

त्वां हत्वा वसुधे बाणैर् मच्छासनपराङ्मुखीम् आत्मयोगबलेनेमा धारयिष्याम्य् अहं प्रजाः

Transliteration

tvāṃ hatvā vasudhe bāṇair macchāsanaparāṅmukhīm ātmayogabalenemā dhārayiṣyāmy ahaṃ prajāḥ

Translation

O Earth (Vasudhā), having struck you down with my arrows—since you have turned away from my sovereign command—I shall, by the power of my inner Yoga, uphold and sustain these beings, these subjects, myself.

Word by Word

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular)

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Kriya (Non-finite action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (prior action)

• वसुधे: O Earth
• वसुधे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative); एकवचन (Singular)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd); बहुवचन (Plural)

• मत्-शासन-पराङ्मुखीम्: turned away from my rule/command
• मत्-शासन-पराङ्मुखीम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक) + पराङ्मुखी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier of त्वाम्)

• आत्मयोगबलेन: by the power of self-yoga
• आत्मयोगबलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मयोग + बल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd); एकवचन (Singular)

• इमाः: these
• इमाः: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifier of प्रजाः)

• धारयिष्यामि: I will sustain/support
• धारयिष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st); एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रजाः: the subjects/creatures
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd); बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

A sovereign king (royal speaker addressing Earth as Vasudhā) within the Parāśara–Maitreya narration

Avatara Context

Avatara: Varaha

Purpose: As Varāha, Viṣṇu ensures the Earth remains fit to bear beings by re-establishing her obedience to cosmic sovereignty.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Rāja-dharma aligned with cosmic order—sustenance through rightful governance and divine-backed power

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True sovereignty claims responsibility: even if the Earth is punished, the ruler must still sustain beings through inner discipline and power.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: When enforcing accountability, simultaneously plan how dependents will be protected; cultivate inner steadiness (yoga) to carry responsibility.

Vishishtadvaita: Antaryāmin-bhāva is implied by ‘ātma-yoga-bala’: sustaining power ultimately rests in the Lord within, enabling dharmic maintenance of the world.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Vasudhā/Bhūmi)
• King (sovereign ruler)
• Subjects (Prajāḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of Earth (Vasudhā) being addressed and threatened in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats Earth as accountable to dharma: when she “turns away” from rightful śāsana, the king asserts corrective authority to restore order and protect the subjects.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the king’s role in sustaining society?

The king is portrayed as responsible for upholding prajā; even if Earth’s support is withheld, he must ensure stability—here expressed through “ātma-yoga-bala,” disciplined inner power aligned with duty.

What is the theological importance of Yoga-power in this context?

Yoga-bala signals that true sovereignty is not merely force but dharmic mastery rooted in inner discipline—ultimately reflecting the Purāṇic ideal that all sustaining power participates in the higher order established by Vishnu.