Shloka 12

अर्जुनस्य अन्त्येष्टि, द्वारकाप्लावनम्, कलिप्रवेशः, कालोपदेशः

Devanagari script

पार्थः पञ्चनदे देशे बहुधान्यसमन्विते चकार वासं सर्वस्य जनस्य मुनिसत्तम

Transliteration

pārthaḥ pañcanade deśe bahudhānyasamanvite cakāra vāsaṃ sarvasya janasya munisattama

Translation

O best of sages, Pārtha (Arjuna) dwelt in the grain-abundant land of Pañcanada and established there a settled abode for all the people.

Word by Word

• pārthaḥ: Partha (Arjuna)
• pārthaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• pañca-nade: in the land of five rivers
• pañca-nade: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + nada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (‘पञ्च नद्यो यस्मिन्’/‘पञ्चनदः’)

• deśe: in the region
• deśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• bahu-dhānya-samanvite: abounding in much grain
• bahu-dhānya-samanvite: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + dhānya (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपदभावः (‘बहुभिः धान्यैः समन्विते’ = endowed with much grain)

• cakāra: made; took up
• cakāra: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• vāsam: dwelling; residence
• vāsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sarvasya: of all
• sarvasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (genitive: ‘of all’)

• janasya: of the people
• janasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• muni-sattama: O best of sages
• muni-sattama: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘मुनीनां सत्तमः’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Historical aftermath of Kṛṣṇa’s departure and the fate of His people and allies.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa’s earthly līlā culminates in the post-war reordering of society, where His associates like Arjuna help re-establish settled life after upheaval.

Leela: Loka-rakshana (world-protection)

Dharma Restored: Social stability (loka-saṃgraha) through protection and resettlement.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Righteous power expresses itself as loka-saṃgraha—securing and settling the community in a fertile land.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use strength and resources to stabilize vulnerable communities—housing, safety, and food security as dharma in action.

Vishishtadvaita: Service to Bhagavān’s world (His body as jagat) is meaningful; protecting beings is a form of devotion aligned with the Lord’s will.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Vamsha: Chandra

Dharma Exemplar: Protection of subjects (rājadharma)

Key Kings: Pārtha (Arjuna)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna (personal)

Bhakti Type: Dasya (servant)

Characters & Entities

• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• Pañcanada (land of five rivers)
• People/subjects

FAQs

What is the significance of Pañcanada in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse Pañcanada is presented as a fertile, grain-rich region suitable for stable settlement, highlighting the Purana’s interest in sacred geography and the practical foundations of dharmic rule.

How does Sage Parāśara present the ideal role of a king or hero here?

Parāśara depicts Pārtha as ensuring public welfare by creating an organized residence for the people—an expression of rāja-dharma where governance means sustaining society materially and securely.

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

Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana frames righteous polity and social stability as part of cosmic order ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the Supreme Sovereign.