Shloka 22

कामतृष्णावैराग्योपदेशः तथा राज्यविभागः

Teaching on Desire & Renunciation; Delegation of Kingdoms

Devanagari script

उदीच्यां च तथैवानुं कृत्वा मण्डलिनो नृपान् सर्वपृथ्वीपतिं पूरुं सो ऽभिषिच्य ययौ वनम्

Transliteration

udīcyāṃ ca tathaivānuṃ kṛtvā maṇḍalino nṛpān sarvapṛthvīpatiṃ pūruṃ so 'bhiṣicya yayau vanam

Translation

Having likewise brought the circle of kings—both in the northern regions and among the Anu lineage—under his rule, he consecrated Pūru as sovereign of the whole earth; then, his royal duty fulfilled, he departed to the forest.

Word by Word

• उदीच्याम्: in the northern region
• उदीच्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अनुम्: Anu (a region)
• अनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; देशविशेष-नाम

• कृत्वा: having made/after doing
• कृत्वा: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातु: कृ (to do)

• मण्डलिनः: provincial/territorial (kings)
• मण्डलिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• नृपान्: kings
• नृपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सर्वपृथ्वीपतिम्: lord of the whole earth
• सर्वपृथ्वीपतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पृथ्वीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्याः पृथिव्याः पतिः)

• पूरुम्: Pūru
• पूरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

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

• अभिषिच्य: having anointed/crowned
• अभिषिच्य: Kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); धातु: सिच् (to sprinkle), उपसर्ग: अभि; अर्थ: अभिषेकं कृत्वा

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: Karma (Goal/Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Genealogical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kingship is a dharmic trust: after establishing order and installing a worthy successor, one should turn toward restraint and renunciation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Fulfill responsibilities without possessiveness; plan succession and then simplify life toward spiritual aims.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied: worldly authority is subordinate to the higher puruṣārtha of serving the Supreme, so relinquishment after duty aligns life toward Bhagavān.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Dharma Exemplar: Rajadharma culminating in renunciation (vānaprastha) after establishing orderly sovereignty.

Key Kings: Pūru, Anu

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Anu
• Pūru
• Mandala kings
• Earth (Pṛthvī)

FAQs

What is the significance of consecrating Pūru as “lord of the whole earth” in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Pūru as the legitimate center of imperial sovereignty within the Lunar dynasty, marking a decisive transfer of authority that anchors later Paurava genealogy.

How does Sage Parāśara present the ideal arc of kingship in this passage?

Parāśara depicts kingship as a duty completed through establishing political order (bringing regional kings into alignment) and then relinquished through withdrawal to the forest, emphasizing dharma over personal possession.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named directly, the Purana’s genealogy treats rightful sovereignty and orderly succession as expressions of cosmic order upheld by the Supreme Reality (Vishnu) working through dharma and lineage.