Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 9

The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा जगद्गुरुर्देवै: सहासृत्य सुरेश्वरै: । वैन्यस्य दक्षिणे हस्ते दृष्ट्वा चिह्नं गदाभृत: ॥ ९ ॥ पादयोररविन्दं च तं वै मेने हरे: कलाम् । यस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रमंश: स परमेष्ठिन: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

brahmā jagad-gurur devaiḥ sahāsṛtya sureśvaraiḥ vainyasya dakṣiṇe haste dṛṣṭvā cihnaṁ gadābhṛtaḥ

Translation

Phạm Thiên (Brahmā), bậc thầy của vũ trụ, đến đó cùng chư thiên và các vị chủ tể của họ. Thấy trên bàn tay phải của vua Pṛthu (con của Vena) có những đường tướng của Viṣṇu—Đấng cầm chùy—và dưới lòng bàn chân có ấn hoa sen, Phạm Thiên hiểu rằng Pṛthu là phần aṁśa-kalā của Śrī Hari. Ai có dấu bánh xe (cakra) cùng các tướng lành khác trên lòng bàn tay, nên được xem là một phần biểu hiện hay hóa thân của Đấng Tối Thượng.

Synonyms

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• jagat: of the world
• jagat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); समासाङ्गम्

• guruḥ: teacher
• guruḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘jagad-guruḥ’ इति समासार्थे प्रधानपदम्

• devaiḥ: with the gods
• devaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Instrumental-association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ/Association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-उपपद (with)

• āsṛtya: having approached/taken refuge
• āsṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Having done)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; उपसर्गः—आ-; अर्थः ‘आश्रित्य/समाश्रित्य’

• sureśvaraiḥ: with the lords of the gods
• sureśvaraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Instrumental-association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—सुराणाम् ईश्वराः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vainyasya: of Vainya (Pṛthu)
• vainyasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• dakṣiṇe: in the right
• dakṣiṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्—haste

• haste: hand
• haste: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Having done)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः

• cihnam: mark/sign
• cihnam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cihna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• gadābhṛtaḥ: the mace-bearer
• gadābhṛtaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gadā + bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: समासः—गदां बिभर्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष); ‘bhṛ’ धातोः कृत्-प्रत्ययः ‘तृच्/तृ’ (agent noun) → bhṛt; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषणम्—(हरेः)

Purport

There is a system by which one can detect an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nowadays it has become a cheap fashion to accept any rascal as an incarnation of God, but from this incident we can see that Lord Brahmā personally examined the hands and feet of King Pṛthu for specific signs. In their prophecies the learned sages and brāhmaṇas accepted Pṛthu Mahārāja as a plenary partial expansion of the Lord. During the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa, however, a king declared himself Vāsudeva, and Lord Kṛṣṇa killed him. Before accepting someone as an incarnation of God, one should verify his identity according to the symptoms mentioned in the śāstras. Without these symptoms the pretender is subject to be killed by the authorities for pretending to be an incarnation of God.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Vainya (King Pṛthu)
• Viṣṇu (Gadā-bhṛt)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about divine marks on a great king’s body?

This verse says Brahmā recognized Vainya (Pṛthu) by seeing a specific emblem on his right hand—an identifying sign connected with Lord Viṣṇu, indicating divine empowerment and protection.

Why did Brahmā come with the demigods to see Vainya (Pṛthu)?

In the narrative of Pṛthu’s appearance, the cosmic administrators gathered because a divinely empowered ruler was needed to restore dharma; Brahmā confirms Pṛthu’s divine authorization through the mark.

Practical application of recognizing “divine qualities” in modern life?

Rather than being impressed by titles, look for consistent signs of character—service, protection of others, integrity, and devotion—just as Brahmā looked for authentic indicators of divine purpose.