Shloka 80

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

तस्मात् प्रजाहितार्थाय मम धर्मभृतां वर तं तु वत्सं प्रयच्छ त्वं क्षरेयं येन वत्सला

Transliteration

tasmāt prajāhitārthāya mama dharmabhṛtāṃ vara taṃ tu vatsaṃ prayaccha tvaṃ kṣareyaṃ yena vatsalā

Translation

Therefore, O best among the upholders of dharma, for the welfare of the people and to fulfill my purpose, give me that calf, so that this cow, becoming affectionate to her young, may yield her milk.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-रूपम्; पञ्चमी-एकवचन (Ablative singular) — हेतौ/कारणार्थे ("therefore/from that") अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः

• प्रजा-हित-अर्थाय: for the purpose of the people's welfare
• प्रजा-हित-अर्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/beneficiary dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रजायाः हितम् = प्रजाहितम्; तस्य अर्थः = प्रजाहितार्थः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-एकवचन (Dative singular) — प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• धर्म-भृताम्: of the upholders of dharma
• धर्म-भृताम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √भृ धारणे)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मं बिभ्रति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-बहुवचन (Genitive plural)

• वर: O best one
• वर: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचन (Vocative singular)

• तम्: him/that
• तम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — विशेषार्थ/विरोधार्थ

• वत्सम्: calf
• वत्सम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular)

• प्रयच्छ: give; grant
• प्रयच्छ: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √यम् (यच्छति) (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• क्षरेयम्: milk-yielding; flowing (with milk)
• क्षरेयम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षर (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षर स्रवणे)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Accusative singular); विशेषणम् (implied: धेनुम्/पृथिवीम्)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन (Instrumental singular) — साधनार्थे

• वत्सला: affectionate to the calf
• वत्सला: Karta (Predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Nominative singular); विशेषणम् (implied: पृथिवी/धेनुः)

Speaker

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (contextually within the royal-dynastic narrative as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How the earth became productive and ordered under righteous rule (Pṛthu’s governance and milking of Earth).

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Righteous sovereignty acts for prajā-hita (the people’s welfare) by eliciting nature’s abundance through dharmic means rather than exploitation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise leadership (family/community/work) as stewardship: create conditions where resources ‘flow’ sustainably and compassionately.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhūmi’s fertility is not autonomous; it responds within the Lord’s ordered cosmos through the dharmic agent (king), implying a divinely governed world of dependent realities.

Vaishnava Theology

Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi

Characters & Entities

• Prajā (subjects/people)
• Dharma (righteous order)
• Cow
• Calf

FAQs

What is the significance of prajā-hita (welfare of the people) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames governance as dharma-driven: actions are justified primarily by prajā-hita—ensuring sustenance and stability for society.

How does Sage Parāśara present dharma in the dynastic sections of the Vishnu Purana?

Through episodes like this, dharma is shown as practical rulership—securing resources, preventing disorder, and acting for collective good rather than private gain.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s framework treats dharma and rightful sovereignty as expressions of Vishnu’s sustaining power—order, nourishment, and protection of beings.