Shloka 72
Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies
ततः सोमस्य वचनाज् जगृहुस् ते प्रचेतसः संहृत्य कोपं वृक्षेभ्यः पत्नीधर्मेण मारिषाम्
tataḥ somasya vacanāj jagṛhus te pracetasaḥ saṃhṛtya kopaṃ vṛkṣebhyaḥ patnīdharmeṇa māriṣām
Then, heeding Soma’s words, the Pracetas restrained their wrath against the trees and, in accord with the dharma of marriage, accepted Māriṣā as their wife.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How the Pracetas’ wrath was pacified and how progeny proceeded through Māriṣā.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Anger that disrupts the world must be restrained in obedience to higher counsel and dharma, so creation and society can proceed without obstruction.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Pause before acting in anger; seek wise counsel and choose solutions that preserve life, relationships, and the common good.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma functions as the Lord’s ordering principle within the world, harmonizing human action with cosmic purpose.
Dharma Exemplar: kṣamā (forbearance)
Key Kings: Pracetas, Māriṣā
FAQs
Soma functions as a restorer of balance: his words prompt the Pracetas to withdraw destructive anger and return to a dharmic, life-sustaining course that supports creation and lineage.
Parāśara emphasizes patnī-dharma—marital legitimacy and social-cosmic order—showing that even powerful ascetics must align personal power with lawful generativity rather than uncontrolled destruction.
Though not named in the verse, the movement from chaos (wrath) to order (dharma and sanctioned lineage) reflects Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—the principle by which the cosmos is preserved and creation proceeds in harmony.