rule



 

Canto 4

Mahâmantra 2

 

Chapter 15: King Prithu's Appearance and Coronation

(1) Maitreya said: 'Thus the brahmins again churned the arms of the king who had no son and from that action a child couple took birth. (2) About that child couple being born the sages conversant with the Vedas said that they were very happy, knowing that it concerned an ['âves'a'-]expansion of the Supreme Lord. (3) The sages said: 'This man is an expansion of the Supreme Lord Vishnu who maintains the world and this woman is Lakshmî, the Goddess of Fortune who is an inseparable, integral part of the Original Person. (4) This male will be the first among the kings and will spread his reputation under the name of Prithu ['the one of the earth'], becoming widely renown as the Great King. (5) This female will, as a goddess of all good qualities, enhance the beauty of her ornaments with the magnificence of her teeth; she will be named Arci and will attract Prithu with her great beauty.  (6) He, as a partial, direct representative of the Lord, is born with the desire to protect the entire world and she took birth as the inseparable goddess who is very attracted to him.'

(7) Maitreya said: 'The brahmins praised him, the singers of heaven chanted, the perfected ones showered flowers and the girls of heaven were dancing. (8)  Filling the air with vibrating conches, bugles, drums and kettledrums and such, all the godly souls, the sages and the elderly of all sections of society gathered there. (9-10) Brahmâ, the master of the universe, accompanied by the godly arriving there together with all the leaders of the enlightened world, saw on the right hand of that son of Vena, the mark of Vishnu carrying the club. His two feet also showed the [marks of the] lotus flower and thus he was certain that he dealt with a partial appearance of the Lord who with His invincible disc [as a mark in His hand] as a plenary portion represents the Supreme Interest. (11) The brahmins attached to the rituals arranged for his coronation and thus the people for his sake from everywhere collected the different means for performing the ceremony. (12) The rivers, the seas, the mountains, the serpents, the cows, the birds and the animals, the sky, the earth and all living beings contributed with different kinds of gifts. (13) He was thus crowned the Mahârâja. Exquisitely dressed and fully ornamented he, together with his nicely jeweled wife Arci, appeared like a fire beyond compare. (14) The keeper of wealth Kuvera, donated a royal throne made of gold, oh hero, and Varuna gave him an umbrella as brilliant as the moon from which constantly a mist of water droplets showered. (15) Vâyu in his turn gave him two camâras [whisks] made of hair, Dharma gave a garland that added to his name and fame, Indra gave a very valuable helmet while Yama gave him a scepter to rule the world. (16) Brahmâ armed him with spiritual knowledge, his wife Bhâratî, the Goddess of Learning [Sarasvatî], gave a transcendental necklace, the Supreme Personality [Hari, Vishnu] gave him a Sudars'ana disc and His wife Lakshmî gave him imperishable opulence. (17) Lord S'iva came with a sword decorated with ten moons and Durgâ gave a likewise shield showing a hundred moons. The moon god gave horses of the finest breed and the demigod Vis'vakarmâ presented a very beautiful chariot. (18) Agni gave a bow made of horn, Sûrya gave arrows as brilliant as sunlight, Bhûmi [the Goddess of the Earth] gave slippers that empowered him with mystic union and the gods of the heavenly planets gave him flowers day after day. (19) The art of drama, singing the finest songs, playing musical instruments as also the ability to make things appear and disappear, were given to him by those moving through the ether. The great sages blessed him with infallibility and the god of the ocean produced a conch shell for him. (20) The seas, the mountains and the rivers provided him passage for his chariot and professed bards and officials of prayer presented themselves praising him in verses. (21) Seeing them engaged in their offerings, the greatly powerful son of Vena spoke as follows, smiling with a voice as grave as the thunder of clouds.

(22) King Prithu said: 'Oh dear bards, men of prayer and men of praise, the words of your address are misplaced. The way I am now present in this world I do not stand out with these qualities. Why should I be praised as the refuge when these words do not apply to me? Your words for my sake should not go in vain. (23) Offer those prayers therefore some future time, when the qualities you mentioned are actually manifest in me, oh gentle reciters. The proper way is to discuss the qualities of the Supreme Lord glorified in the scriptures. Being civilized one should not offer prayers to a lowly human being. (24) Someone who causes followers to praise him for talents that he as a lord and master could have but in reality lacks, deceives himself in being a fool unaware of the fact that the people are insulting him. (25) The ones in power certainly do not like it to be praised. Despite being very famous, they are modest: [they very well know] that they, magnanimous as they are in their heroic deeds, are just as well reprehensible. (26) Oh you people led by practices of praise, when we at present are not of any fame in the world or of any praiseworthy action, then how can I engage you in songs of praise for me like you were children?'

     

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Third revised edition, loaded September 25, 2017.

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Maitreya said: 'Thus the brahmins again churned the arms of the king who had no son and from that action a child couple took birth.
Maitreya said: 'Thus again churned the brahmins, this time, the arms of the king that had no son and from that did a couple take birth. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

About that child couple being born the sages conversant with the Vedas said that they were very happy, knowing that it concerned an ['âves'a'-]expansion of the Supreme Lord.

From that couple born said the sages conversant with the Vedas that they were very happy, knowing that it was an ['avesa'-] expansion of the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)

  

Text 3

The sages said: 'This man is an expansion of the Supreme Lord Vishnu who maintains the world and this woman is Lakshmî, the Goddess of Fortune who is an inseparable, integral part of the Original Person.

The sages said: 'This male is an expansion of the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, who maintains the world and this woman is Lakshmî, the Goddess of Fortune, who is an inseparable integral part of the Original Person. (Vedabase)

  

Text 4

This male will be the first among the kings and will spread his reputation under the name of Prithu ['the one of the earth'], becoming widely renown as the Great King.

This male then will be the first among the kings and will spread his reputation under the name of Prithu [the one of the earth] becoming widely renown as the great King. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

This female will, as a goddess of all good qualities, enhance the beauty of her ornaments with the magnificence of her teeth; she will be named Arci and will attract Prithu with her great beauty.

This female child will enhance the beauty of her ornaments with the magnificence of her teeth as a goddess of all good qualities; she will be named Arci and is sure to attract Prithu with her great beauty. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

He, as a partial, direct representative of the Lord, is born with the desire to protect the entire world and she took birth as the inseparable goddess who is very attracted to him.'

He as a partial, direct representative of the Lord is born with the desire to protect the whole world and she took birth as the inseparable goddess, that is certainly very attracted to him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

Maitreya said: 'The brahmins praised him, the singers of heaven chanted, the perfected ones showered flowers and the girls of heaven were dancing.

Maitreya said: 'All the learned praised him, the singers of heaven chanted, the perfected ones showered flowers and the girls of heaven were dancing. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Filling the air with vibrating conches, bugles, drums and kettledrums and such, all the godly souls, the sages and the elderly of all sections of society gathered there.

Filling the air vibrating conches, bugles, drums and kettledrums and alike, there gathered all the godly, the sages and the elderly of all sections of society. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9-10

Brahmâ, the master of the universe, accompanied by the godly arriving there together with all the leaders of the enlightened world, saw on the right hand of that son of Vena, the mark of Vishnu carrying the club. His two feet also showed the [marks of the] lotus flower and thus he was certain that he dealt with a partial appearance of the Lord who with His invincible disc [as a mark in His hand] as a plenary portion represents the Supreme Interest.

Brahmâ, the master of the universe, accompanied by the godly arriving there together with all the leaders of the enlightened world, saw on the right hand of that son of Vena, the mark of Vishnu carrying the club. His two feet also showed the lotusflower and thus he was certain that he dealt with the part of the Lord that is His invincible disc; by that he would represent the Supreme Interest. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

The brahmins attached to the rituals arranged for his coronation and thus the people for his sake from everywhere collected the different means for performing the ceremony.

The brahmins attached to the rituals arranged for his coronation and thus collected the people, for his sake, from all sides the various means for performing the ceremony. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

The rivers, the seas, the mountains, the serpents, the cows, the birds and the animals, the sky, the earth and all living beings contributed with different kinds of gifts.

The rivers, seas, mountains, the serpents, the cows, the birds and the animâls; the sky, the earth and all living beings, were brought together by their different presentations. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

He was thus crowned the Mahârâja. Exquisitely dressed and fully ornamented he, together with his nicely jeweled wife Arci, appeared like a fire beyond compare.

He was thus crowned the Mahârâja; exquisitely dressed and fully ornamented he together with his nicely jeweled wife Arci appeared like a fire beyond compare. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

The keeper of wealth Kuvera, donated a royal throne made of gold, oh hero, and Varuna gave him an umbrella as brilliant as the moon from which constantly a mist of water droplets showered.

The keeper of wealth, Kuvera, presented him a royal throne made of gold, o hero, and Varuna gave him an umbrella brilliant as the moon that constantly showered a mist of waterdrops. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Vâyu in his turn gave him two camâras [whisks] made of hair, Dharma gave a garland that added to his name and fame, Indra gave a very valuable helmet while Yama gave him a scepter to rule the world.

Vayu also gave him two camâra's [whisks] made of hair, Dharma a garland that added to his name and fame, Indra gave a very valuable helmet and Yama gave him a scepter to rule the world. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Brahmâ armed him with spiritual knowledge, his wife Bhâratî, the Goddess of Learning [Sarasvatî], gave a transcendental necklace, the Supreme Personality [Hari, Vishnu] gave him a Sudars'ana disc and His wife Lakshmî gave him imperishable opulence.

Brahmâ armed him with spiritual knowledge, his wife Bharati, the goddess of learning [Sarasvatî] gave a transcendental necklace, the Supreme Personality [Hari, Vishnu] gave him the Sudarsana disc and His wife Lakshmî gifted him imperishable beauty and opulence. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Lord S'iva came with a sword decorated with ten moons and Durgâ gave a likewise shield showing a hundred moons. The moon god gave horses of the finest breed and the demigod Vis'vakarmâ presented a very beautiful chariot.

Lord S'iva came with a sword decorated with ten moons and Durgâ gave a likewise shield showing a hundred moons. The moongod gifted horses of the finest breed and the demigod Visvakarma donated a very beautiful chariot. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Agni gave a bow made of horn, Sûrya gave arrows as brilliant as sunlight, Bhûmi [the Goddess of the Earth] gave slippers that empowered him with mystic union and the gods of the heavenly planets gave him flowers day after day.

Agni gave a bow made of horn, Surya arrows brilliant as sunlight, Bhumi [the goddess of the Earth] gifted slippers that empowered him with mystic union, and the gods above presented him flowers day after day. (Vedabase)
 
Text 19

The art of drama, singing the finest songs, playing musical instruments as also the ability to make things appear and disappear, were given to him by those moving through the ether. The great sages blessed him with infallibility and the god of the ocean produced a conch shell for him.

The art of drama, singing the finest songs, playing musical instruments as well as the ability to make things appear and disappear, were given to him by the gods of the beyond; the great sages blessed him with the infallible and the god of the ocean produced him a conchshell. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

The seas, the mountains and the rivers provided him passage for his chariot and professed bards and officials of prayer presented themselves praising him in verses.

The seas, mountains and rivers provided him passage for his chariot and professed bards and officials of prayer and praise presented themselves hailing him in verses. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Seeing them engaged in their offerings, the greatly powerful son of Vena spoke as follows, smiling with a voice as grave as the thunder of clouds.

Seeing them engaged in their offerings, spoke the greatly powerful son of Vena as follows, smiling with a voice as grave as the thunder of clouds. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

King Prithu said: 'Oh dear bards, men of prayer and men of praise, the words of your address are misplaced. The way I am now present in this world I do not stand out with these qualities. Why should I be praised as the refuge when these words do not apply to me? Your words for my sake should not go in vain.

King Prithu said: 'O dear bards, men of prayer and men of praise, your words towards me are in vain; as I am now in this world I do not show all these possible qualities. Thus why praise the shelter of me? These words should never be applied to me. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Offer those prayers therefore some future time, when the qualities you mentioned are actually manifest in me, oh gentle reciters. The proper way is to discuss the qualities of the Supreme Lord glorified in the scriptures. Being civilized one should not offer prayers to a lowly human being.

Therefore offer those prayers, when in some future time, the qualities of me you spoke about, can sufficiently been appreciated, o gentle reciters. The honorable ones correctly discussing the qualities of the Supreme One glorified in the scriptures, never offer those prayers to a detestable human being. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

Someone who causes followers to praise him for talents that he as a lord and master could have but in reality lacks, deceives himself in being a fool unaware of the fact that the people are insulting him.

A man of competence manifesting in himself the exalted qualities, who causes his followers to praise him, although he is just of the temporal and therefore untrue; they thus might have been cheated by him - such a fool does not realize that the people are insulting him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

The ones in power certainly do not like it to be praised. Despite being very famous, they are modest: [they very well know] that they, magnanimous as they are in their heroic deeds, are just as well reprehensible.

The powerful surely don't like themselves to be praised. Although very famous they are modest; as magnanimous of great deeds as they are, they are as well abominable. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Oh you people led by practices of praise, when we at present are not of any fame in the world or of any praiseworthy action, then how can I engage you in songs of praise for me like you were children?'

O people led by praise, when we are then just now not of any fame in the world or praiseworthy of action, how then could I engage you, as if you were children, in prayers unto me?' (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

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The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
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The picture is titled: 'The Four-Headed Brahmâ Instructs Prithu" and is © of
Johannes Ptok.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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