Shloka 1

अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः

Devanagari script

न प्रार्थितं त्वया कस्मान् मम राज्यम् अकण्टकम् राज्यलाभाद् विना नान्यत् क्षत्रियाणाम् अतिप्रियम्

Transliteration

na prārthitaṃ tvayā kasmān mama rājyam akaṇṭakam rājyalābhād vinā nānyat kṣatriyāṇām atipriyam

Translation

Why did you not ask me for my kingdom—whole and untroubled, free from any thorn of opposition? For to kṣatriyas, nothing is so exceedingly dear as the gaining of sovereignty.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• प्रार्थितम्: requested
• प्रार्थितम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु) → प्रार्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (requested)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana/Agent-in-passive (by-agent/कर्ता-हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कस्मात्: why; from what reason
• कस्मात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (why/from what reason)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• राज्यम्: kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• अकण्टकम्: free of thorns/obstacles
• अकण्टकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्-उपसर्ग) + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः (कण्टकः न अस्ति यस्मिन्)

• राज्यलाभात्: from gaining the kingdom
• राज्यलाभात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्यस्य लाभः)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (Exclusion/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वियोगार्थक-उपपद (without; governs instrumental/ablative sense)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• क्षत्रियाणाम्: of kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अतिप्रियम्: most dear
• अतिप्रियम्: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अति प्रियम्)

Speaker

A king (royal speaker within the dynasty narrative; exact identification depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 7)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The verse states a worldly norm: for kṣatriyas, unopposed kingship is considered supremely desirable, revealing the typical pull of rājyābhilāṣa.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Notice role-based desires (status, control) and examine whether they align with one’s higher aim; practice restraint when ambition masquerades as duty.

Vishishtadvaita: Contrasts worldly sovereignty with the higher puruṣārtha, preparing for the teaching that true freedom lies beyond political power.

Characters & Entities

• King
• Kingdom (Rajya)

FAQs

What is the significance of “akaṇṭaka rāajya” (an untroubled kingdom) in the Vishnu Purana?

In this verse it denotes sovereignty free from internal and external “thorns” (rivals, rebellion, obstacles), highlighting the classical royal ideal of stable, uncontested rule.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame kṣatriya priorities in this context?

The speaker states that for kṣatriyas nothing is dearer than attaining kingship, presenting sovereignty as the defining aspiration and duty-bound focus of the warrior-ruler class.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here, even when not named?

Within the Vishnu Purana’s royal histories, worldly sovereignty is implicitly subordinate to cosmic order upheld by Vishnu; kingship is meaningful insofar as it aligns with dharma under Vishnu’s supreme governance.