Shloka 90
The Birth of King Pṛthu: Vena’s Fall, the Sages’ Churning, and Earth’s Surrender
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो द्विजश्रेष्ठ यजन्दाता पृथुः पुरा । सर्वज्ञं सर्वदातारं धर्मवीर्यं नरोत्तमम्
brāhmaṇebhyo dvijaśreṣṭha yajandātā pṛthuḥ purā | sarvajñaṃ sarvadātāraṃ dharmavīryaṃ narottamam
Wahai yang terbaik di antara para dwija! Pada zaman dahulu Raja Pṛthu, yang memberi dana sambil melaksanakan yajña, memuliakan para Brāhmaṇa—ia Mahatahu, pemberi bagi semua, pahlawan dharma, dan yang utama di antara manusia.
Uncertain from single-verse context (likely a narrator addressing a 'dvijaśreṣṭha' interlocutor within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue frame).
Concept: True greatness is measured by sacrificial responsibility and generous support of spiritual learning and ritual specialists.
Application: Give consistently to worthy causes (education, temples, service) while keeping integrity in your ‘yajña’—your daily duties and work.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"King Pṛthu stands beside a blazing sacrificial fire, extending gifts to learned Brāhmaṇas as Vedic chants rise like smoke into the sky. The scene balances royal power with humility: the king’s hands are open in dāna, while the priests’ calm faces reflect the steadiness of dharma.","primary_figures":["King Pṛthu","Brāhmaṇa priests","Agni (sacrificial fire personified subtly)","Attendants with gift trays"],"setting":"Open-air yajña-śālā with vedi altar, kusa grass, ladles, and rows of offerings","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["fire amber","smoke gray","ivory white","royal maroon","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Pṛthu richly adorned offering golden vessels and cloth to Brāhmaṇas beside a stylized yajña fire, gold leaf flames and halos, deep red-green textiles, ornate arch frame, gem-like detailing on crowns and ornaments, symmetrical devotional composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate yajña pavilion with delicate brushwork, soft earth tones, refined priestly figures, gentle fire glow, detailed ritual implements, lyrical trees in the background, subtle shading and calm expressions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, large-eyed Pṛthu and priests around the vedi, flat yet vibrant natural pigments, rhythmic flame patterns, ceremonial clarity, temple-wall iconographic arrangement.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: yajña scene framed by lotus and floral borders, stylized offerings and lamps, peacocks at the margins, deep indigo background with gold highlights, central royal donor figure in devotional posture, intricate textile motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["Vedic chanting","crackling fire","hand bell","conch shell (opening)","ritual spoon clinks"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विजश्रेष्ठ = द्विज + श्रेष्ठ (तत्पुरुष); यजन्दाता → यजन् + दाता; सर्वज्ञं → सर्वज्ञम्; सर्वदातारं → सर्वदातारम्; नरोत्तमम् = नर + उत्तमम्.
FAQs
Pṛthu is an idealized righteous king in Purāṇic literature, praised for upholding rāja-dharma, supporting Brāhmaṇas, and ensuring prosperity through dharmic rule.
The verse links kingship with yajña and dāna: a ruler’s greatness is measured by sacrificial responsibility, generosity, and protection of dharma—especially through honoring learned Brāhmaṇas.
In the Purāṇic framework, Brāhmaṇas preserve and transmit Vedic knowledge and ritual expertise; supporting them is portrayed as sustaining yajña, social order, and dharma.