Shloka 85

वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्

Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth

Devanagari script

यत्र यत्र समं त्व् अस्या भूमेर् आसीन् नराधिपः तत्र तत्र प्रजानां हि निवासं समरोचयत्

Transliteration

yatra yatra samaṃ tv asyā bhūmer āsīn narādhipaḥ tatra tatra prajānāṃ hi nivāsaṃ samarocayat

Translation

Wherever on this earth the ground was even and level, there the king, lord of men, approved and established dwellings, appointing settled abodes for the people.

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक-अव्यय/adverb of place)

• यत्र: wherever
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरुक्ति/emphatic repetition)

• समम्: even, level, equally
• समम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (used adverbially = ‘equally/level’)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; contrast/emphasis)

• अस्याः: of this (her/this earth)
• अस्याः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive)

• भूमेः: of the earth
• भूमेः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (genitive)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नराधिपः: the king (lord of men)
• नराधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘नराणाम् अधिपः’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक-अव्यय/adverb of place)

• तत्र: in each such place
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (पुनरुक्ति/emphatic repetition)

• प्रजानाम्: of the subjects/people
• प्रजानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (genitive)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• निवासम्: dwelling-place, settlement
• निवासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (accusative)

• समरोचयत्: he arranged/assigned (as suitable)
• समरोचयत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense ‘to cause to be pleasing/arrange’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rulership is dharma when it establishes orderly, sustainable habitation for all beings.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Prioritize equitable land-use, public welfare, and stable community planning as a form of dharmic stewardship.

Vishishtadvaita: The world is a real, purposeful field for dharma; governance supports the Lord’s order (niyati) within creation.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: rājadharma (orderly governance and protection of subjects)

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Characters & Entities

• A king (narādhipaḥ)
• Subjects/people (prajā)

FAQs

What is the significance of righteous kingship in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights the king’s dharmic role as a stabilizer of society—creating orderly settlements and ensuring the people have suitable places to live, reflecting governance aligned with cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practical duties of a ruler here?

Through a concrete example: the ruler identifies habitable, level land and then formally establishes residences for the subjects—showing that dharma includes administrative foresight and public welfare.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named directly, the Purana frames good governance as participation in the divine order: a king’s just arrangement of society mirrors the sustaining power (sthiti) ultimately rooted in Vishnu.