Shloka 53
कलियुग-प्रवृत्तिः, सप्तर्षि-गणना, धरणीगीताः, च वंश-समाप्तिः
Kali-yuga onset, Saptarṣi reckoning, Dharaṇī-gītā, and closure of the dynastic account
पृथ्वी ममेयं सकला ममेयं मदन्वयस्यापि च शाश्वतेयम् यो यो मृतो ह्य् अत्र बभूव राजा कुबुद्धिर् आसीद् इति तस्य तस्य
pṛthvī mameyaṃ sakalā mameyaṃ madanvayasyāpi ca śāśvateyam yo yo mṛto hy atra babhūva rājā kubuddhir āsīd iti tasya tasya
“This earth is mine—this whole world is mine; it is forever mine and belongs to my lineage as well.” Yet every king who has died here, whoever he was, is remembered by that very claim as one of misguided understanding.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Critique of royal absolutism and lineage-pride grounded in ‘this earth is mine’.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: The boast ‘the whole earth is mine, forever mine’ is refuted by the universal fact of death; such claim marks the claimant as deluded.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Hold roles, property, and identity lightly; plan responsibly while remembering that stewardship is temporary.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhūmi and all realms are the Lord’s śarīra (body), while rulers are temporary trustees—ownership belongs to Nārāyaṇa alone.
Dharma Exemplar: Humility (recognizing the limits of royal power)
Lakshmi Presence: Bhumi
FAQs
This verse treats the claim “the earth is mine” as a recurring royal delusion; death exposes that sovereignty is temporary, so clinging to ownership is branded as misguided understanding.
By pointing to the repeated fate of kings, Parāśara uses genealogy not merely as record-keeping but as a moral mirror: the same arrogance arises, and the same end comes, urging detachment and dharmic rule.
Even when not named in the verse, the Purana’s frame implies that true lordship belongs to the Supreme (Vishnu); human kingship is conditional and fleeting, meant to align with dharma rather than egoic ownership.