Shloka 4
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
प्रजास्तं दीपबलिभि: सम्भृताशेषमङ्गलै: । अभीयुर्मृष्टकन्याश्च मृष्टकुण्डलमण्डिता: ॥ ४ ॥
prajās taṁ dīpa-balibhiḥ sambhṛtāśeṣa-maṅgalaiḥ abhīyur mṛṣṭa-kanyāś ca mṛṣṭa-kuṇḍala-maṇḍitāḥ
جب بادشاہ شہر کے دروازے میں داخل ہوا تو رعایا چراغ، پھول، دہی اور دیگر تمام مَنگل اشیا لے کر دل سے اس کے استقبال کو آئی۔ بہت سی حسین کنواریاں بھی، جن کے کانوں میں جھنجھناتے کُندل تھے، اس کے خیرمقدم کے لیے آگئیں۔
Offerings of natural products such as betel nuts, bananas, newly grown wheat, paddy, yogurt and vermillion, carried by the citizens and scattered throughout the city, are all auspicious paraphernalia, according to Vedic civilization, for receiving a prominent guest like a bridegroom, king or spiritual master. Similarly, a welcome offered by unmarried girls who are internally and externally clean and are dressed in nice garments and ornaments is also auspicious. Kumārī, or unmarried girls untouched by the hand of any member of the opposite sex, are auspicious members of society. Even today in Hindu society the most conservative families do not allow unmarried girls to go out freely or mix with boys. They are very carefully protected by their parents while unmarried, after marriage they are protected by their young husbands, and when elderly they are protected by their children. When thus protected, women as a class remain an always auspicious source of energy to man.
FAQs
This verse shows the citizens welcoming Pṛthu with lamps and auspicious offerings, indicating that a dharmic ruler naturally inspires reverence, gratitude, and devotional celebration among the people.
In the narrative, Pṛthu is recognized as an empowered, ideal ruler; the citizens come to receive him with traditional maṅgala articles and offerings as a public expression of respect and joy.
Offer gratitude and honor to genuinely virtuous leadership, and cultivate auspicious, uplifting practices—bringing light, cleanliness, and reverence into community life.