Shloka 21

The Sūtas Foretell the Glories and Future Deeds of King Pṛthu

Devanagari script

अस्मै नृपाला: किल तत्र तत्रबलिं हरिष्यन्ति सलोकपाला: । मंस्यन्त एषां स्त्रिय आदिराजंचक्रायुधं तद्यश उद्धरन्त्य: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

asmai nṛ-pālāḥ kila tatra tatra baliṁ hariṣyanti saloka-pālāḥ maṁsyanta eṣāṁ striya ādi-rājaṁ cakrāyudhaṁ tad-yaśa uddharantyaḥ

Translation

Cuando el rey recorra el mundo entero, otros reyes y los regentes celestiales le ofrecerán tributos y presentes en todas partes. Sus reinas lo considerarán también el rey primordial, portador de maza y disco, y cantarán su fama, pues su reputación será tan ilustre como la del propio Bhagaván.

Synonyms

• asmai: to him
• asmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• nṛ-pālāḥ: kings
• nṛ-pālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘नॄणां पालाः’ = rulers of men

• kila: indeed / it is said
• kila: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle indicating report/indeed)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb): there

• tatra: in various places
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense): here and there

• balim: tribute
• balim: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• hariṣyanti: will bring/offer
• hariṣyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• sa-loka-pālāḥ: together with the world-guardians
• sa-loka-pālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (सह) + loka-pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘लोकपालैः सह’ = along with the guardians of the worlds

• maṁsyante: will consider/think
• maṁsyante: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• eṣām: of these (kings)
• eṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Gen), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• striyaḥ: women
• striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन

• ādi-rājam: the primordial king
• ādi-rājam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘आदिः राजा’ = the original/first king

• cakrāyudham: the discus-weaponed (Lord)
• cakrāyudham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘चक्रं आयुधं यस्य’ = he whose weapon is the discus

• tat-yaśaḥ: his fame
• tat-yaśaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘तस्य यशः’ = his fame

• uddharantyaḥ: raising up, extolling
• uddharantyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√hṛ (धातु) + शतृ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

Purport

As far as reputation is concerned, King Pṛthu is already known as the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word ādi-rājam means “the original king.” The original king is Nārāyaṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu. People do not know that the original king, or Nārāyaṇa, is actually the protector of all living entities. As confirmed in the Vedas, eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān ( Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13): the Supreme Personality of Godhead is maintaining all living entities. The king, or naradeva, is His representative. As such, the king’s duty is to personally supervise the distribution of wealth for the maintenance of all living entities. If he does so, he will be as reputable as Nārāyaṇa. As mentioned in this verse ( tad-yaśaḥ ), Pṛthu Mahārāja was actually carrying with him the reputation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he was actually reigning over the world in that capacity.

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja
• Lokapālas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the ideal king receiving tribute?

This verse says that when a ruler is truly qualified like Pṛthu, other kings and even the world-guardians naturally offer tribute—recognizing his rightful, dharmic sovereignty.

Why are the women described as glorifying the 'ādi-rāja' and 'cakrāyudha'?

Because Pṛthu is portrayed as the archetypal emperor, and his glory is celebrated in song; the epithet 'cakrāyudha' links his power and protection to divine, Viṣṇu-like authority.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

Leadership grounded in dharma earns voluntary respect; genuine service and protection of others naturally generate good reputation and spoken praise rather than forced recognition.