Shloka 46
मैत्रेय पृथिवीगीताः श्लोकाश् चात्र निबोध तान् यान् आह धर्मध्वजिने जनकायासितो मुनिः
maitreya pṛthivīgītāḥ ślokāś cātra nibodha tān yān āha dharmadhvajine janakāyāsito muniḥ
O Maitreya, understand now these verses called the “Song of the Earth”—the very stanzas the sage Āsita once spoke to Janaka, that king whose banner was Dharma itself.
Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Introduction to the ‘Pṛthivī-gītā’ (Song of the Earth) as an instructive citation for kingship and detachment.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Receive and contemplate the Earth’s didactic ‘song’ as a mirror exposing royal delusion and guiding dharmic rule.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Approach counsel and scripture as a corrective to ambition—regularly hearing and reflecting before acting.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is grounded in a theistic moral order upheld by the Lord, conveyed through guru-paramparā and Purāṇic testimony.
Dharma Exemplar: Dharma (righteous kingship and self-governance)
Key Kings: Janaka
FAQs
This verse introduces the “Song of the Earth” as an authoritative teaching transmitted through sages, framing Earth’s discourse as guidance on dharma and right order.
He anchors them in a prior instruction: the sage Āsita taught these verses to King Janaka, and Parāśara now relays the same tradition to Maitreya.
By emphasizing dharma and cosmic order as the theme of the upcoming teaching, the Purana implies Vishnu’s sovereignty as the sustaining principle behind righteous governance and worldly stability.