Shloka 1

Cosmic Appointments, Viṣṇu’s Vibhūtis, Fourfold Operation, and the Symbolism of Ornaments and Weapons

Devanagari script

यदाभिषिक्तः स पृथुः पूर्वं राज्ये महर्षिभिः ततः क्रमेण राज्यानि ददौ लोकपितामहः

Transliteration

yadābhiṣiktaḥ sa pṛthuḥ pūrvaṃ rājye maharṣibhiḥ tataḥ krameṇa rājyāni dadau lokapitāmahaḥ

Translation

When Pṛthu was first anointed to kingship by the great seers, then that grandsire of the world, in due order, apportioned and bestowed the several realms of governance.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (when)

• अभिषिक्तः: anointed
• अभिषिक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गः अभि-

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पृथुः: Pṛthu
• पृथुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (formerly/first)

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• महर्षिभिः: by the great sages
• महर्षिभिः: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-निर्देशक; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् ऋषिः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/अपादानार्थक (then/thereafter)

• क्रमेण: in order
• क्रमेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (in due order)

• राज्यानि: kingdoms
• राज्यानि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• लोकपितामहः: the grandsire of the world (Brahmā)
• लोकपितामहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य पितामहः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Legitimate kingship arises through dharmic consecration and must distribute authority in an ordered way for the protection and flourishing of the world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise leadership as stewardship: accept responsibility through accountability, delegate fairly, and prioritize public welfare over personal gain.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly governance is a sacred trust within the Lord’s order; rulers and realms function as dependent instruments (śeṣa) meant to serve the divine purpose of loka-saṅgraha.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Rāja-dharma (orderly, welfare-oriented kingship)

Key Kings: Pṛthu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu
• Maharṣis (great sages)

FAQs

What is the significance of Pṛthu’s consecration (abhiṣeka) in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the legitimization of kingship by the maharṣis, presenting rule as a dharmic institution aligned to cosmic order rather than mere power.

How does Sage Parāśara frame political authority in this verse?

He presents sovereignty as something ritually established and then exercised in “due order,” emphasizing structured governance and rightful allocation of realms.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic worldview treats righteous kingship as an instrument of dharma sustained by the Supreme Reality (Vishnu) who upholds order in the world.