Shloka 39

Kālayavana’s Rise, Dvārakā’s Founding, and Muchukunda’s Awakening (Śaraṇāgati & Brahman-Stuti)

Devanagari script

राज्यम् उर्वी बलं कोशो मित्रपक्षस् तथात्मजाः भार्या भृत्यजनो ये च शब्दाद्या विषयाः प्रभो

Transliteration

rājyam urvī balaṃ kośo mitrapakṣas tathātmajāḥ bhāryā bhṛtyajano ye ca śabdādyā viṣayāḥ prabho

Translation

Sovereignty and land, armed strength and treasury; allies and one’s sons; wife and dependents—and even the sense-objects beginning with sound: all these, O Lord, gather around power and fortune, and are counted among the outward possessions of embodied life.

Word by Word

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• उर्वी: earth/land
• उर्वी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• बलम्: strength/army
• बलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• कोशः: treasury
• कोशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• मित्र-पक्षः: the side/group of friends
• मित्र-पक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मित्राणां पक्षः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• आत्मजाः: sons/children
• आत्मजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• भृत्य-जनः: servant-people/retinue
• भृत्य-जनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (भृत्यः जनः)

• ये: which/who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन (सम्बन्धे ‘विषयाः’ इत्यनेन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शब्द-आद्याः: beginning with sound (etc.)
• शब्द-आद्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शब्दः आदिः येषां ते)

• विषयाः: sense-objects
• विषयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• प्रभो: O lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Case 8), एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna is addressed as Lord while the speaker enumerates the transient supports of embodied power to emphasize the need for divine refuge.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Discernment of the non-self (external possessions) versus the true refuge (Bhagavan)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kingdom, wealth, relations, and even sense-objects are external acquisitions that cluster around fortune and power, not around lasting peace.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Regularly audit what you call ‘mine’ (status, assets, relationships, pleasures) and practice non-possessiveness by offering results and identity to God.

Vishishtadvaita: All ‘possessions’ are secondary supports; the primary support is Bhagavan, the inner ruler to whom all wealth (Śrī) ultimately belongs.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of listing kingdom, land, army, and treasury in the Vishnu Purana?

The verse groups the classic supports of sovereignty—territory, force, wealth, allies, heirs, and dependents—to show how worldly rule is sustained by external acquisitions rather than inner liberation.

How does Sage Parāśara explain attachment to sense-objects (śabdādi viṣaya)?

By placing “sound and the rest” alongside political and familial assets, Parāśara frames sense-enjoyments as possessions that bind the mind, reinforcing a dharmic call toward restraint and discernment.

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

Addressing the listener as “O Lord” underscores that true sovereignty belongs to the Supreme, while human power and its possessions remain contingent within Vishnu’s cosmic order.