Shloka 10

Devanagari script

दक्षिणस्यां दिशि तथा कर्दमस्य प्रजापतेः पुत्रं शङ्खपदं नाम राजानं सो ऽभ्यषेचयत्

Transliteration

dakṣiṇasyāṃ diśi tathā kardamasya prajāpateḥ putraṃ śaṅkhapadaṃ nāma rājānaṃ so 'bhyaṣecayat

Translation

In the southern quarter as well, he consecrated as king Śaṅkhapada, son of the Prajāpati Kardama.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणस्याम्: in the southern (direction)
• दक्षिणस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दिशि: in the direction
• दिशि: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, similarly
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रम-वाचक (connective/sequence adverb)

• कर्दमस्य: of Kardama
• कर्दमस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• प्रजापतेः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शङ्खपदम्: Śaṅkhapada
• शङ्खपदम्: Karma (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्राय: ‘शङ्ख-सदृशं पदं’/नामरूप); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Viśeṣaṇa (Name-indicator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक (indeclinable meaning ‘by name’)

• राजानम्: king
• राजानम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अभ्यषेचयत्: anointed, consecrated
• अभ्यषेचयत्: Kriyā (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√सिच् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लङ्-लकार; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Assignment of specific consecrated rulers to each cardinal direction

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is maintained when power is ritually and morally installed to serve protection rather than domination.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Exercise leadership as service: set boundaries, uphold rules, and protect dependents within one’s responsibility.

Vishishtadvaita: Many authorities function as limbs of a single cosmic body—order arises from coordinated service, not isolated sovereignty.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Steadfast guardianship and discipline appropriate to the southern quarter

Key Kings: Śaṅkhapada, Kardama

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Kardama Prajāpati
• Śaṅkhapada
• Southern direction (Dakṣiṇa diśā)

FAQs

What is the significance of consecrating a king for the southern direction in the Vishnu Purana?

It presents kingship as part of cosmic administration—each region is placed under a rightful ruler to preserve dharma and stability, reflecting the ordered sustaining function associated with Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the organization of the world through such appointments?

Through a narrative of directional and regional assignments, Parāśara depicts governance as structured and hereditary, tying geography to lineage and showing how order is maintained across the world.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana frames rightful rule and world-order as expressions of the Supreme Sustainer—so political sovereignty becomes a visible instrument of divine preservation.