Shloka 14
Pṛthu’s Earth-Milking, the Etymology of ‘Pṛthivī,’ and the Vaivasvata (Solar) Genealogy
पृथुरप्यवदद्वाक्यमीप्सितं देहि सुव्रते । सर्वस्य जगतः शीघ्रं स्थावरस्य चरस्य च
pṛthurapyavadadvākyamīpsitaṃ dehi suvrate | sarvasya jagataḥ śīghraṃ sthāvarasya carasya ca
പൃഥുവും പറഞ്ഞു—“ഹേ സുവ്രതേ! സ്ഥാവര-ചരങ്ങളായ സമസ്ത ലോകത്തിന്റെ ഹിതത്തിനായി, അഭിലഷിതം വേഗം ദയചെയ്യുക.”
Pṛthu
Concept: Prosperity is not private: Earth’s yield must serve all beings; governance is measured by universal welfare.
Application: Use resources—money, time, land, knowledge—for shared benefit; avoid hoarding; design decisions that support both people and environment.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: earth
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Pṛthu addresses the cow-Earth with firm gentleness, one hand extended in supplication while the other steadies his bow. Around them, faint silhouettes of beings—trees, animals, villagers—appear as if invoked by his words, emphasizing that the request is for the whole world.","primary_figures":["Pṛthu","Bhūmi-devī (as cow)","subtle silhouettes of beings (sthāvara and jaṅgama)"],"setting":"A broad meadow-edge near a small hermitage boundary; symbolic presence of forests, fields, and settlements in the distance.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["honey gold","forest green","clay red","pearl white","lapis blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Pṛthu in regal attire speaks with a compassionate yet commanding gesture; the cow-Earth faces him calmly; gold leaf on halos and ornaments; background includes stylized trees, grain stalks, and tiny figures of people and animals; rich reds/greens, devotional grandeur.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tender dialogue scene with refined expressions; distant terraced fields and a river-like ribbon implied; soft dawn light; cool blues and greens balanced with warm earth tones; lyrical naturalism highlighting ‘world-welfare’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal, iconic Pṛthu with expressive eyes and hand gesture of request; cow-Earth adorned with earth-patterns; stylized bands showing plants and animals; bold outlines, natural pigments, temple narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central pair (Pṛthu and cow-Earth) framed by lotus borders; surrounding ring of motifs—grain sheaves, trees, deer, birds—representing sthāvara-jaṅgama; deep blue ground with gold and pink lotuses, symbolic abundance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["gentle conch","morning birds","soft mridangam pulse","rustling leaves"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पृथुरपि = पृथुः + अपि; अप्यवदत् = अपि + अवदत्; अवदद्वाक्यमीप्सितम् = अवदत् + वाक्यम् + ईप्सितम्
FAQs
The verse addresses a virtuous feminine figure (“O virtuous one”). In the immediate narrative context (not included in the excerpt), this typically refers to the female interlocutor whom Pṛthu petitions to grant a boon or desired outcome.
“Sthāvara” denotes immovable beings (plants, mountains, fixed entities) and “cara” denotes moving beings (animals, humans, mobile life). Together they express the totality of creation.
The request frames leadership and action as oriented toward universal welfare—seeking what benefits the whole world, not merely personal gain, aligning with dharmic kingship and cosmic order.