Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

पश्चिमस्यां दिशि तथा रजसः पुत्रम् अच्युतम् केतुमन्तं महात्मानं राजानम् अभिषिक्तवान्

Transliteration

paścimasyāṃ diśi tathā rajasaḥ putram acyutam ketumantaṃ mahātmānaṃ rājānam abhiṣiktavān

Translation

Likewise, in the western quarter, he consecrated as king the great-souled Ketumān—Acyuta, the son of Rajas.

Word by Word

• पश्चिमस्याम्: in the western (direction)
• पश्चिमस्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (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
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चय-वाचक

• रजसः: of Rajas
• रजसः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (stem रजस्)

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

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• केतुमन्तम्: bannered, illustrious
• केतुमन्तम्: Karma (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केतुमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महात्मानम्: great-souled
• महात्मानम्: Karma (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• अभिषिक्तवान्: anointed, consecrated
• अभिषिक्तवान्: Kriyā (Main verb; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√सिच् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle, periphrastic perfect sense); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग—‘having anointed’/‘(he) anointed’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Directional consecrations—who guards each quarter and by what authority

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Secondary

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Great-souled leadership (mahātman) is presented as a qualification for guardianship within the cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Develop steadiness and impartiality before accepting responsibility over others; let virtue precede authority.

Vishishtadvaita: Qualities (guṇas) of individual agents matter within the one cosmic order—plurality is meaningful yet harmonized.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Mahātmatva (great-souled steadiness) in protective rulership

Key Kings: Ketumān, Rajas

Characters & Entities

• Ketumān
• Acyuta
• Western direction (Paścima-diś)

FAQs

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

It presents kingship as part of a larger cosmic administration—each quarter is stabilized through a legitimate ruler, reflecting dharma as ordered sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain dynastic continuity in this passage?

By naming the ruler along with his parentage (son of Rajas) and recording the abhiṣeka, Parāśara frames succession as both genealogical and ritually sanctioned.

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

Even when Vishnu is not explicitly named, the narrative implies that rightful rule and world-order ultimately depend on the supreme sustaining principle associated with Vishnu.