Shloka 45

स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्

Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame

Devanagari script

प्रहस्य तान् आह नृपः स खाण्डिक्यो महामतिः स्वल्पकालं महीराज्यं मादृशैः प्रार्थ्यते कथम्

Transliteration

prahasya tān āha nṛpaḥ sa khāṇḍikyo mahāmatiḥ svalpakālaṃ mahīrājyaṃ mādṛśaiḥ prārthyate katham

Translation

Smiling, the great-minded king Khāṇḍikya said: “How could men such as I beg for dominion over the earth—this kingship that endures only a little while? Royal power is fleeting.”

Word by Word

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (absolutive/gerund)

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘आह’ इति लिट्-रूपम्)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सः: he
• सः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• खाण्डिक्यः: Khāṇḍikya
• खाण्डिक्यः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डिक्य (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• महामतिः: great-minded, very wise
• महामतिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महा + मति)

• स्वल्पकालम्: for a short time
• स्वल्पकालम्: Adverbial (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (महīराज्यम्/राज्यम्) अर्थे ‘अल्पकालपर्यन्तम्’; समासः—कर्मधारयः

• महीराज्यम्: the kingdom of the earth
• महीराज्यम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महेः राज्यं)

• मादृशैः: by people like me
• मादृशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), बहुवचनम्; ‘मद्-दृश’ इत्यर्थे (like me)

• प्रार्थ्यते: is requested
• प्रार्थ्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (वर्तमान/Present), तृतीयपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Sambandha (Question/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्ययम् (interrogative adverb)

Speaker

King Khāṇḍikya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Illustration of renunciation and discernment within a royal narrative in the pralaya-focused Aṃśa.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Earthly sovereignty is short-lived; therefore a discerning person does not abase himself to seek it.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Regularly contemplate impermanence to loosen attachment to status, titles, and control.

Vishishtadvaita: Detachment is not nihilism but reorientation from transient prakṛti-based honors to the enduring Lord as the highest end.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Vairāgya (dispassion toward fleeting power)

Key Kings: Khāṇḍikya

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: shanta

Characters & Entities

• King Khāṇḍikya
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of transient kingship (mahīrājya) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames earthly rule as short-lived and therefore unworthy of being begged for, using royal dialogue to teach detachment and dharmic perspective amid dynasty narratives.

How does the Vishnu Purana present the ideal attitude of a king toward power?

Through Khāṇḍikya’s response, the text depicts a ruler who recognizes the impermanence of sovereignty and refuses to treat dominion as an object of personal craving or supplication.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s worldview assumes a higher, enduring sovereignty beyond worldly thrones—encouraging rulers to align with dharma under the Supreme Reality rather than cling to temporary power.