Shloka 13
दुर्वासाशापः, क्षीरसागरमन्थनम्, श्रीः (लक्ष्मी) उद्भवः तथा श्रीस्तुतिः
प्रसाद इति नोक्तं ते प्रणिपातपुरःसरम् हर्षोत्फुल्लकपोलेन न चापि शिरसा धृता
prasāda iti noktaṃ te praṇipātapuraḥsaram harṣotphullakapolena na cāpi śirasā dhṛtā
You did not utter the words, “Be gracious,” preceded by a reverent prostration; nor—your cheeks blooming with joy—did you bow your head in humble acceptance.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; describing a courtly exchange)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Specific breaches of etiquette (praṇipāta, prasāda-vacana) that constitute disrespect
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Dharma is upheld through concrete acts of humility—prostration, grateful speech, and joyful acceptance—without which even rightful authority becomes hollow.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Cultivate visible gratitude: acknowledge gifts, bow inwardly (or physically where appropriate), and respond with respectful words before acting.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti expresses itself as śeṣatva (servanthood) through embodied reverence; inner devotion is expected to manifest in outward satkāra.
Bhakti Type: Dasya
Lakshmi Presence: Sri
FAQs
In this verse, “prasāda” functions as a formal request for benevolence, signaling humility and recognition of higher authority—an ethical prerequisite for rightful dealings in royal and social order.
He highlights a sequence of decorum: respectful prostration first, then the appropriate petition, and finally a bodily sign of humble acceptance—showing that inner attitude should be mirrored by speech and gesture.
Though Vishnu is not named in this line, the Purana’s broader framework treats dharma and rightful sovereignty as grounded in the Supreme Order upheld by Vishnu; proper humility and restraint reflect alignment with that cosmic governance.