Shloka 10
वेन-पृथु-प्रादुर्भावः, राजधर्मः, पृथिवीदोहनम्
Vena–Pṛthu Episode and the Milking of Earth
किमर्थं मथितः पाणिर् वेनस्य परमर्षिभिः यत्र जज्ञे महावीर्यः स पृथुर् मुनिसत्तम
kimarthaṃ mathitaḥ pāṇir venasya paramarṣibhiḥ yatra jajñe mahāvīryaḥ sa pṛthur munisattama
اے بہترین رشی! پرم رشیوں نے وین کے ہاتھ کو کس غرض سے متھا، جس سے عظیم شجاعت والا پرتھو پیدا ہوا؟
Maitreya (questioning Sage Parāśara)
Speaker: Maitreya
Topic: Purpose of the sages’ churning of Vena’s hand/arm and the birth of Pṛthu from it.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: inquisitive; prompts authoritative narrative explanation
Dharma Exemplar: Pṛthu (anticipated) as rājarṣi who restores righteous kingship and prosperity
Key Kings: Vena, Pṛthu
FAQs
It signifies a deliberate, dharma-driven intervention by the ṛṣis to manifest a rightful sovereign—Pṛthu—so that social and cosmic order can be restored after Vena’s unrighteous rule.
Through Maitreya’s question, the narrative frames kingship as a sacred function: when adharma disrupts order, the guardians of tradition (ṛṣis) act so that a dharmic ruler arises and governance realigns with universal law.
Though not named in this verse, the episode functions within a Vishnu-centered worldview where righteous kingship and stability ultimately reflect the sustaining power of the Supreme—Vishnu—as the ground of order (dharma) in the world.