Shloka 45
इक्ष्वाकुवंश-प्रसङ्गः, पुरंजय-दैवसाहाय्य-कथा, युवनाश्व-मांधातृ-उत्पत्तिः, सौभरि-वैराग्योपदेशः
अन्ये ऽपि सन्त्य् एव नृपाः पृथिव्यां क्ष्मापाल येषांतनयाः प्रसूताः किंत्व् अर्थिनाम् अर्थितदानदीक्षा कृतव्रतं श्लाघ्यम् इदं कुलं ते
anye 'pi santy eva nṛpāḥ pṛthivyāṃ kṣmāpāla yeṣāṃtanayāḥ prasūtāḥ kiṃtv arthinām arthitadānadīkṣā kṛtavrataṃ ślāghyam idaṃ kulaṃ te
Other kings too indeed exist upon the earth... Yet this is the praiseworthy distinction of your family: it has taken up as a solemn vow the consecrated discipline of granting to supplicants exactly what they seek.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya, within the dynastic account)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The distinctive kula-vrata of Māndhātṛ’s line—granting what petitioners seek—and its role in the unfolding Saubhari episode.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: True nobility is not mere power or progeny but a disciplined vow to give appropriately to those who seek refuge and help.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Build a ‘culture of reliability’: practice measured generosity, keep promises, and treat requests with respect rather than inconvenience.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma as dīkṣā suggests sanctified action: in Viśiṣṭādvaita, righteous giving can be offered as kainkarya (service) to the Lord, with Śrī as the auspicious principle of abundance guiding generosity.
Vamsha: Surya
Dharma Exemplar: Dāna-dharma (vow-like generosity to petitioners)
Key Kings: Māndhātṛ
Bhakti Type: shanta
Lakshmi Presence: Sri
FAQs
The verse elevates a dynasty not merely for having heirs, but for making charitable responsiveness to petitioners a formal vow—an ethical marker of ideal kingship.
He distinguishes ordinary continuity of rule (sons and succession) from true renown: a disciplined commitment to uphold dharma through protection and generous granting to the needy.
In the Vishnu Purana’s worldview, righteous kingship mirrors Vishnu’s sustaining power (sthiti): the king preserves order by dharmic action—especially protection and benevolent giving.