Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 1
The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise
मैत्रेय उवाच अथ तस्य पुनर्विप्रैरपुत्रस्य महीपते: । बाहुभ्यां मथ्यमानाभ्यां मिथुनं समपद्यत ॥ १ ॥
maitreya uvāca atha tasya punar viprair aputrasya mahīpateḥ bāhubhyāṁ mathyamānābhyāṁ mithunaṁ samapadyata
மைத்ரேயர் கூறினார்—விதுரா! பின்னர் மகனில்லாமல் இறந்த வேன அரசனின் இரு கரங்களையும் பிராமணரும் மகரிஷிகளும் மீண்டும் மத்தனம் செய்தனர். அதன் விளைவாக ஒரு ஆண்-பெண் ஜோடி வெளிப்பட்டது।
FAQs
This verse explains that when the brāhmaṇas churned the arms of the sonless King Vena, a male and female pair manifested—introducing the divine arrangement for righteous kingship through Prithu’s appearance.
Within the narrative, the brāhmaṇas acted to restore dharma in the kingdom; by churning Vena’s arms, they brought forth progeny suited to reestablish proper rule.
Leadership should be aligned with dharma and guided by wise, principled counsel; when governance becomes unrighteous, corrective action rooted in spiritual values is necessary for society’s welfare.