Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 4 Chapter 23

Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home

VERSE 4.23.1-3

maitreya uvāca

dṛṣṭvātmānaṁ pravayasam
ekadā vainya ātmavān
ātmanā vardhitāśeṣa-
svānusargaḥ prajāpatiḥ

jagatas tasthuṣaś cāpi
vṛttido dharma-bhṛt satām
niṣpāditeśvarādeśo
yad-artham iha jajñivān

ātmajeṣv ātmajāṁ nyasya
virahād rudatīm iva
prajāsu vimanaḥsv ekaḥ
sa-dāro ’gāt tapo-vanam

SYNONYMS

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the sage Maitreya continued to speak; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; ātmānam — of the body; pravayasam — old age; ekadā — once upon a time; vainyaḥ — King Pṛthu; ātma-vān — fully conversant in spiritual education; ātmanā — by oneself; vardhita — increased; aśeṣa — unlimitedly; sva-anusargaḥ — creation of material opulences; prajā-patiḥ — a protector of citizens; jagataḥ — moving; tasthuṣaḥ — not moving; ca — also; api — certainly; vṛtti-daḥ — one who gives pensions; dharma-bhṛt — one who observes the religious principles; satām — of the devotees; niṣpādita — fully executed; īśvara — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ādeśaḥ — order; yat-artham — in coordination with Him; iha — in this world; jajñivān — performed; ātma-jeṣu — unto his sons; ātma-jām — the earth; nyasya — indicating; virahāt — out of separation; rudatīm iva — just like lamenting; prajāsu — unto the citizens; vimanaḥsu — unto the aggrieved; ekaḥ — alone; sa-dāraḥ — with his wife; agāt — went; tapaḥ-vanam — in the forest where one can execute austerities.

TRANSLATION

At the last stage of his life, when Mahārāja Pṛthu saw himself getting old, that great soul, who was king of the world, divided whatever opulence he had accumulated amongst all kinds of living entities, moving and nonmoving. He arranged pensions for everyone according to religious principles, and after executing the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in complete coordination with Him, he dedicated his sons unto the earth, which was considered to be his daughter. Then Mahārāja Pṛthu left the presence of his citizens, who were almost lamenting and crying from feeling separation from the King, and went to the forest alone with his wife to perform austerities.

VERSE 4.23.4

tatrāpy adābhya-niyamo
vaikhānasa-susammate
ārabdha ugra-tapasi
yathā sva-vijaye purā

SYNONYMS

tatra — there; api — also; adābhya — severe; niyamaḥ — austerities; vaikhānasa — rules and regulations of retired life; su-sammate — perfectly recognized; ārabdhaḥ — beginning; ugra — severe; tapasi — austerity; yathā — as much as; sva-vijaye — in conquering the world; purā — formerly.

TRANSLATION

After retiring from family life, Mahārāja Pṛthu strictly followed the regulations of retired life and underwent severe austerities in the forest. He engaged in these activities as seriously as he had formerly engaged in leading the government and conquering everyone.

VERSE 4.23.5

kanda-mūla-phalāhāraḥ
śuṣka-parṇāśanaḥ kvacit
ab-bhakṣaḥ katicit pakṣān
vāyu-bhakṣas tataḥ param

SYNONYMS

kanda — trunk; mūla — roots; phala — fruits; āhāraḥ — eating; śuṣka — dry; parṇa — leaves; aśanaḥ — eating; kvacit — sometimes; ap-bhakṣaḥ — drinking water; katicit — for several; pakṣān — fortnights; vāyu — the air; bhakṣaḥ — breathing; tataḥ param — thereafter.

TRANSLATION

In the tapo-vana, Mahārāja Pṛthu sometimes ate the trunks and roots of trees, sometimes he ate fruit and dried leaves, and for some weeks he drank only water. Finally he lived simply by breathing air.

VERSE 4.23.6

grīṣme pañca-tapā vīro
varṣāsv āsāraṣāṇ muniḥ
ākaṇṭha-magnaḥ śiśire
udake sthaṇḍile-śayaḥ

SYNONYMS

grīṣme — in the summer season; pañca-tapāḥ — five kinds of heating; vīraḥ — the hero; varṣāsu — in the rainy season; āsāraṣāṭ — being situated within the torrents of rain; muniḥ — like the great sages; ākaṇṭha — up to the neck; magnaḥ — drowned; śiśire — in winter; udake — within water; sthaṇḍile-śayaḥ — lying down on the floor.

TRANSLATION

Following the principles of forest living and the footsteps of the great sages and munis, Pṛthu Mahārāja accepted five kinds of heating processes during the summer season, exposed himself to torrents of rain in the rainy season and, in the winter, stood in water up to his neck. He also used to simply lie down on the floor to sleep.

VERSE 4.23.7

titikṣur yata-vāg dānta
ūrdhva-retā jitānilaḥ
ārirādhayiṣuḥ kṛṣṇam
acarat tapa uttamam

SYNONYMS

titikṣuḥ — tolerating; yata — controlling; vāk — words; dāntaḥ — controlling the senses; ūrdhva-retāḥ — without discharge of semen; jita-anilaḥ — controlling the life air; ārirādhayiṣuḥ — simply desiring; kṛṣṇam — Lord Kṛṣṇa; acarat — practice; tapaḥ — austerities; uttamam — the best.

TRANSLATION

Mahārāja Pṛthu underwent all these severe austerities in order to control his words and his senses, to refrain from discharging his semen and to control the life air within his body. All this he did for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. He had no other purpose.

VERSE 4.23.8

tena kramānusiddhena
dhvasta-karma-malāśayaḥ
prāṇāyāmaiḥ sanniruddha-
ṣaḍ-vargaś chinna-bandhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

tena — thus by practicing such austerities; krama — gradually; anu — constantly; siddhena — by perfection; dhvasta — smashed; karma — fruitive activities; mala — dirty things; āśayaḥ — desire; prāṇa-āyāmaiḥ — by practice of prāṇāyāma-yoga, breathing exercises; san — being; niruddha — stopped; ṣaṭ-vargaḥ — the mind and the senses; chinna-bandhanaḥ — completely cut off from all bondage.

TRANSLATION

By thus practicing severe austerities, Mahārāja Pṛthu gradually became steadfast in spiritual life and completely free of all desires for fruitive activities. He also practiced breathing exercises to control his mind and senses, and by such control he became completely free from all desires for fruitive activity.

VERSE 4.23.9

sanat-kumāro bhagavān
yad āhādhyātmikaṁ param
yogaṁ tenaiva puruṣam
abhajat puruṣarṣabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

sanat-kumāraḥ — Sanat-kumāra; bhagavān — most powerful; yat — that which; āha — said; ādhyātmikam — spiritual advancement of life; param — ultimate; yogam — mysticism; tena — by that; eva — certainly; puruṣam — the Supreme Person; abhajat — worshiped; puruṣa-ṛṣabhaḥ — the best of human beings.

TRANSLATION

Thus the best amongst human beings, Mahārāja Pṛthu, followed that path of spiritual advancement which was advised by Sanat-kumāra. That is to say, he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

VERSE 4.23.10

bhagavad-dharmiṇaḥ sādhoḥ
śraddhayā yatataḥ sadā
bhaktir bhagavati brahmaṇy
ananya-viṣayābhavat

SYNONYMS

bhagavat-dharmiṇaḥ — one who executes devotional service; sādhoḥ — of the devotee; śraddhayā — with faith; yatataḥ — endeavoring; sadā — always; bhaktiḥ — devotion; bhagavati — unto the Personality of Godhead; brahmaṇi — the origin of impersonal Brahman; ananya-viṣayā — firmly fixed without deviation; abhavat — became.

TRANSLATION

Mahārāja Pṛthu thus engaged completely in devotional service, executing the rules and regulations strictly according to principles, twenty-four hours daily. Thus his love and devotion unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, developed and became unflinching and fixed.

VERSE 4.23.11

tasyānayā bhagavataḥ parikarma-śuddha-
sattvātmanas tad-anusaṁsmaraṇānupūrtyā
jñānaṁ viraktimad abhūn niśitena yena
ciccheda saṁśaya-padaṁ nija-jīva-kośam

SYNONYMS

tasya — his; anayā — by this; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parikarma — activities in devotional service; śuddha — pure, transcendental; sattva — existence; ātmanaḥ — of the mind; tat — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anusaṁsmaraṇa — constantly remembering; anupūrtyā — being perfectly done; jñānam — knowledge; virakti — nonattachment; mat — possessing; abhūt — became manifested; niśitena — by sharpened activities; yena — by which; ciccheda — become separated; saṁśaya-padam — position of doubtfulness; nija — own; jīva-kośam — encagement of the living entity.

TRANSLATION

By regularly discharging devotional service, Pṛthu Mahārāja became transcendental in mind and could therefore constantly think of the lotus feet of the Lord. Because of this, he became completely detached and attained perfect knowledge by which he could transcend all doubt. Thus he was freed from the clutches of false ego and the material conception of life.

VERSE 4.23.12

chinnānya-dhīr adhigatātma-gatir nirīhas
tat tatyaje ’cchinad idaṁ vayunena yena
tāvan na yoga-gatibhir yatir apramatto
yāvad gadāgraja-kathāsu ratiṁ na kuryāt

SYNONYMS

chinna — being separated; anya-dhīḥ — all other concepts of life (the bodily concept of life); adhigata — being firmly convinced; ātma-gatiḥ — the ultimate goal of spiritual life; nirīhaḥ — desireless; tat — that; tatyaje — gave up; acchinat — he had cut; idam — this; vayunena — with the knowledge; yena — by which; tāvat — so long; na — never; yoga-gatibhiḥ — the practice of the mystic yoga system; yatiḥ — the practicer; apramattaḥ — without any illusion; yāvat — so long; gadāgraja — of Kṛṣṇa; kathāsu — words; ratim — attraction; na — never; kuryāt — do it.

TRANSLATION

When he became completely free from the conception of bodily life, Mahārāja Pṛthu realized Lord Kṛṣṇa sitting in everyone’s heart as the Paramātmā. Being thus able to get all instructions from Him, he gave up all other practices of yoga and jñāna. He was not even interested in the perfection of the yoga and jñāna systems, for he thoroughly realized that devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate goal of life and that unless the yogīs and jñānīs become attracted to kṛṣṇa-kathā [narrations about Kṛṣṇa], their illusions concerning existence can never be dispelled.

VERSE 4.23.13

evaṁ sa vīra-pravaraḥ
saṁyojyātmānam ātmani
brahma-bhūto dṛḍhaṁ kāle
tatyāja svaṁ kalevaram

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; saḥ — he; vīra-pravaraḥ — the chief of the heroes; saṁyojya — applying; ātmānam — mind; ātmani — unto the Supersoul; brahma-bhūtaḥ — being liberated; dṛḍham — firmly; kāle — in due course of time; tatyāja — gave up; svam — own; kalevaram — body.

TRANSLATION

In due course of time, when Pṛthu Mahārāja was to give up his body, he fixed his mind firmly upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, and thus, completely situated on the brahma-bhūta platform, he gave up the material body.

VERSE 4.23.14

sampīḍya pāyuṁ pārṣṇibhyāṁ
vāyum utsārayañ chanaiḥ
nābhyāṁ koṣṭheṣv avasthāpya
hṛd-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-śīrṣaṇi

SYNONYMS

sampīḍya — by blocking; pāyum — the door of the anus; pārṣṇibhyām — by the calves; vāyum — the air which goes up; utsārayan — pushing upward; śanaiḥ — gradually; nābhyām — by the navel; koṣṭheṣu — in the heart and in the throat; avasthāpya — fixing; hṛt — in the heart; uraḥ — upward; kaṇṭha — throat; śīrṣaṇi — between the two eyebrows.

TRANSLATION

When Mahārāja Pṛthu practiced a particular yogic sitting posture, he blocked the door of his anus with his ankles, pressed his right and left calves and gradually raised his life air upward, passing it on to the circle of his navel, up to his heart and throat, and finally pushed it upward to the central position between his two eyebrows.

VERSE 4.23.15

utsarpayaṁs tu taṁ mūrdhni
krameṇāveśya niḥspṛhaḥ
vāyuṁ vāyau kṣitau kāyaṁ
tejas tejasy ayūyujat

SYNONYMS

utsarpayan — thus placing; tu — but; tam — the air; mūrdhni — on the head; krameṇa — gradually; āveśya — placing; niḥspṛhaḥ — being freed from all material desires; vāyum — the air portion of the body; vāyau — in the total air covering the universe; kṣitau — in the total covering of earth; kāyam — this material body; tejaḥ — the fire in the body; tejasi — in the total fire of the material covering; ayūyujat — mixed.

TRANSLATION

In this way, Pṛthu Mahārāja gradually raised his air of life up to the hole in his skull, whereupon he lost all desire for material existence. Gradually he merged his air of life with the totality of air, his body with the totality of earth, and the fire within his body with the totality of fire.

VERSE 4.23.16

khāny ākāśe dravaṁ toye
yathā-sthānaṁ vibhāgaśaḥ
kṣitim ambhasi tat tejasy
ado vāyau nabhasy amum

SYNONYMS

khāni — the different holes in the body for the sense organs; ākāśe — in the sky; dravam — the liquid substance; toye — in the water; yathā-sthānam — according to proper situation; vibhāgaśaḥ — as they are divided; kṣitim — earth; ambhasi — in the water; tat — that; tejasi — in the fire; adaḥ — the fire; vāyau — in the air; nabhasi — in the sky; amum — that.

TRANSLATION

In this way, according to the different positions of the various parts of the body, Pṛthu Mahārāja merged the holes of his senses with the sky; his bodily liquids, such as blood and various secretions, with the totality of water; and he merged earth with water, then water with fire, fire with air, air with sky, and so on.

VERSE 4.23.17

indriyeṣu manas tāni
tan-mātreṣu yathodbhavam
bhūtādināmūny utkṛṣya
mahaty ātmani sandadhe

SYNONYMS

indriyeṣu — in the sense organs; manaḥ — the mind; tāni — the sense organs; tat-mātreṣu — in the objects of the senses; yathā-udbhavam — wherefrom they generated; bhūta-ādinā — by the five elements; amūni — all those sense objects; utkṛṣya — taking out; mahati — in the mahat-tattva; ātmani — unto the ego; sandadhe — amalgamated.

TRANSLATION

He amalgamated the mind with the senses and the senses with the sense objects, according to their respective positions, and he also amalgamated the material ego with the total material energy, mahat-tattva.

VERSE 4.23.18

taṁ sarva-guṇa-vinyāsaṁ
jīve māyāmaye nyadhāt
taṁ cānuśayam ātma-stham
asāv anuśayī pumān
jñāna-vairāgya-vīryeṇa
svarūpa-stho ’jahāt prabhuḥ

SYNONYMS

tam — unto Him; sarva-guṇa-vinyāsam — the reservoir of all qualities; jīve — unto the designations; māyā-maye — the reservoir of all potencies; nyadhāt — placed; tam — that; ca — also; anuśayam — designation; ātma-stham — situated in self-realization; asau — he; anuśayī — the living entity; pumān — the enjoyer; jñāna — knowledge; vairāgya — renunciation; vīryeṇa — by the prowess of; svarūpa-sthaḥ — being situated in one’s constitutional position; ajahāt — returned home; prabhuḥ — the controller.

TRANSLATION

Pṛthu Mahārāja then offered the total designation of the living entity unto the supreme controller of illusory energy. Being released from all the designations by which the living entity became entrapped, he became free by knowledge and renunciation and by the spiritual force of his devotional service. In this way, being situated in his original constitutional position of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he gave up this body as a prabhu, or controller of the senses.

VERSE 4.23.19

arcir nāma mahā-rājñī
tat-patny anugatā vanam
sukumāry atad-arhā ca
yat-padbhyāṁ sparśanaṁ bhuvaḥ

SYNONYMS

arciḥ nāma — of the name Arci; mahā-rājñī — the Queen; tat-patnī — the wife of Mahārāja Pṛthu; anugatā — who followed her husband; vanam — in the forest; su-kumārī — very delicate body; a-tat-arhā — who did not deserve; ca — also; yat-padbhyām — by the touch of whose feet; sparśanam — touching; bhuvaḥ — on the earth.

TRANSLATION

The Queen, the wife of Pṛthu Mahārāja, whose name was Arci, followed her husband into the forest. Since she was a queen, her body was very delicate. Although she did not deserve to live in the forest, she voluntarily touched her lotus feet to the ground.

VERSE 4.23.20

atīva bhartur vrata-dharma-niṣṭhayā
śuśrūṣayā cārṣa-deha-yātrayā
nāvindatārtiṁ parikarśitāpi sā
preyaskara-sparśana-māna-nirvṛtiḥ

SYNONYMS

atīva — very much; bhartuḥ — of the husband; vrata-dharma — vow to serve him; niṣṭhayā — by determination; śuśrūṣayā — by serving; ca — also; ārṣa — like the great saintly sages; deha — body; yātrayā — living condition; na — did not; avindata — perceive; ārtim — any difficulty; parikarśitā api — although transformed to become lean and thin; — she; preyaḥ-kara — very pleasing; sparśana — touching; māna — engaged; nirvṛtiḥ — pleasure.

TRANSLATION

Although she was not accustomed to such difficulties, Queen Arci followed her husband in the regulative principles of living in the forest like great sages. She lay down on the ground and ate only fruits, flowers and leaves, and because she was not fit for these activities, she became frail and thin. Yet because of the pleasure she derived in serving her husband, she did not feel any difficulties.

VERSE 4.23.21

dehaṁ vipannākhila-cetanādikaṁ
patyuḥ pṛthivyā dayitasya cātmanaḥ
ālakṣya kiñcic ca vilapya sā satī
citām athāropayad adri-sānuni

SYNONYMS

deham — body; vipanna — completely failing; akhila — all; cetana — feeling; ādikam — symptoms; patyuḥ — of her husband; pṛthivyāḥ — the world; dayitasya — of the merciful; ca ātmanaḥ — also of herself; ālakṣya — by seeing; kiñcit — very little; ca — and; vilapya — lamenting; — she; satī — the chaste; citām — unto the fire; atha — now; āropayat — placed; adri — hill; sānuni — on the top.

TRANSLATION

When Queen Arci saw that her husband, who had been so merciful to her and the earth, no longer showed symptoms of life, she lamented for a little while and then built a fiery pyre on top of a hill and placed the body of her husband on it.

VERSE 4.23.22

vidhāya kṛtyaṁ hradinī-jalāplutā
dattvodakaṁ bhartur udāra-karmaṇaḥ
natvā divi-sthāṁs tridaśāṁs triḥ parītya
viveśa vahniṁ dhyāyatī bhartṛ-pādau

SYNONYMS

vidhāya — executing; kṛtyam — the regulative function; hradinī — in the water of the river; jala-āplutā — taking bath completely; dattvā udakam — offering oblations of water; bhartuḥ — of her husband; udāra-karmaṇaḥ — who was so liberal; natvā — offering obeisances; divi-sthān — situated in the sky; tri-daśān — the thirty million demigods; triḥ — three times; parītya — circumambulating; viveśa — entered; vahnim — the fire; dhyāyatī — while thinking of; bhartṛ — of her husband; pādau — the two lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

After this, the Queen executed the necessary funerary functions and offered oblations of water. After bathing in the river, she offered obeisances to various demigods situated in the sky in the different planetary systems. She then circumambulated the fire and, while thinking of the lotus feet of her husband, entered its flames.

VERSE 4.23.23

vilokyānugatāṁ sādhvīṁ
pṛthuṁ vīra-varaṁ patim
tuṣṭuvur varadā devair
deva-patnyaḥ sahasraśaḥ

SYNONYMS

vilokya — by observing; anugatām — dying after the husband; sādhvīm — the chaste woman; pṛthum — of King Pṛthu; vīra-varam — the great warrior; patim — husband; tuṣṭuvuḥ — offered prayers; vara-dāḥ — able to give benediction; devaiḥ — by the demigods; deva-patnyaḥ — the wives of the demigods; sahasraśaḥ — in thousands.

TRANSLATION

After observing this brave act performed by the chaste wife Arci, the wife of the great King Pṛthu, many thousands of the wives of the demigods, along with their husbands, offered prayers to the Queen, for they were very much satisfied.

VERSE 4.23.24

kurvatyaḥ kusumāsāraṁ
tasmin mandara-sānuni
nadatsv amara-tūryeṣu
gṛṇanti sma parasparam

SYNONYMS

kurvatyaḥ — just showering; kusuma-āsāram — showers of flowers; tasmin — in that; mandara — of Mandara Hill; sānuni — on the top; nadatsu — vibrating; amara-tūryeṣu — beating of the drums of the demigods; gṛṇanti sma — they were talking; parasparam — amongst themselves as follows.

TRANSLATION

At that time the demigods were situated on the top of Mandara Hill, and all their wives began to shower flowers on the funeral pyre and began to talk amongst themselves as follows.

VERSE 4.23.25

devya ūcuḥ

aho iyaṁ vadhūr dhanyā
yā caivaṁ bhū-bhujāṁ patim
sarvātmanā patiṁ bheje
yajñeśaṁ śrīr vadhūr iva

SYNONYMS

devyaḥ ūcuḥ — the wives of the demigods said; aho — alas; iyam — this; vadhūḥ — the wife; dhanyā — most glorious; — who; ca — also; evam — as; bhū — of the world; bhujām — of all the kings; patim — the king; sarva-ātmanā — with full understanding; patim — unto the husband; bheje — worshiped; yajña-īśam — unto Lord Viṣṇu; śrīḥ — the goddess of fortune; vadhūḥ — wife; iva — like.

TRANSLATION

The wives of the demigods said: All glories to Queen Arci! We can see that this queen of the great King Pṛthu, the emperor of all the kings of the world, has served her husband with mind, speech and body exactly as the goddess of fortune serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Yajñeśa, or Viṣṇu.

VERSE 4.23.26

saiṣā nūnaṁ vrajaty ūrdhvam
anu vainyaṁ patiṁ satī
paśyatāsmān atītyārcir
durvibhāvyena karmaṇā

SYNONYMS

— she; eṣā — this; nūnam — certainly; vrajati — going; ūrdhvam — upward; anu — following; vainyam — the son of Vena; patim — husband; satī — chaste; paśyata — just see; asmān — us; atītya — overpassing; arciḥ — of the name Arci; durvibhāvyena — by inconceivable; karmaṇā — activities.

TRANSLATION

The wives of the demigods continued: Just see how this chaste lady, Arci, by dint of her inconceivable pious activities, is still following her husband upward, as far as we can see.

VERSE 4.23.27

teṣāṁ durāpaṁ kiṁ tv anyan
martyānāṁ bhagavat-padam
bhuvi lolāyuṣo ye vai
naiṣkarmyaṁ sādhayanty uta

SYNONYMS

teṣām — of them; durāpam — difficult to obtain; kim — what; tu — but; anyat — anything else; martyānām — of the human beings; bhagavat-padam — the kingdom of God; bhuvi — in the world; lola — flickering; āyuṣaḥ — span of life; ye — those; vai — certainly; naiṣkarmyam — the path of liberation; sādhayanti — execute; uta — exactly.

TRANSLATION

In this material world, every human being has a short span of life, but those who are engaged in devotional service go back home, back to Godhead, for they are actually on the path of liberation. For such persons, there is nothing which is not available.

VERSE 4.23.28

sa vañcito batātma-dhruk
kṛcchreṇa mahatā bhuvi
labdhvāpavargyaṁ mānuṣyaṁ
viṣayeṣu viṣajjate

SYNONYMS

saḥ — he; vañcitaḥ — cheated; bata — certainly; ātma-dhruk — envious of himself; kṛcchreṇa — with great difficulty; mahatā — by great activities; bhuvi — in this world; labdhvā — by achieving; āpavargyam — the path of liberation; mānuṣyam — in the human form of life; viṣayeṣu — in the matter of sense gratification; viṣajjate — becomes engaged.

TRANSLATION

Any person who engages himself within this material world in performing activities that necessitate great struggle, and who, after obtaining a human form of life — which is a chance to attain liberation from miseries — undertakes the difficult tasks of fruitive activities, must be considered to be cheated and envious of his own self.

VERSE 4.23.29

maitreya uvāca

stuvatīṣv amara-strīṣu
pati-lokaṁ gatā vadhūḥ
yaṁ vā ātma-vidāṁ dhuryo
vainyaḥ prāpācyutāśrayaḥ

SYNONYMS

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; stuvatīṣu — while glorifying; amara-strīṣu — by the wives of the denizens of heaven; pati-lokam — the planet where the husband had gone; gatā — reaching; vadhūḥ — the wife; yam — where; — or; ātma-vidām — of the self-realized souls; dhuryaḥ — the topmost; vainyaḥ — the son of King Vena (Pṛthu Mahārāja); prāpa — obtained; acyuta-āśrayaḥ — under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya continued speaking: My dear Vidura, when the wives of the denizens of heaven were thus talking amongst themselves, Queen Arci reached the planet which her husband, Mahārāja Pṛthu, the topmost self-realized soul, had attained.

VERSE 4.23.30

ittham-bhūtānubhāvo ’sau
pṛthuḥ sa bhagavattamaḥ
kīrtitaṁ tasya caritam
uddāma-caritasya te

SYNONYMS

ittham-bhūta — thus; anubhāvaḥ — very great, powerful; asau — that; pṛthuḥ — King Pṛthu; saḥ — he; bhagavat-tamaḥ — the best among the lords; kīrtitam — described; tasya — his; caritam — character; uddāma — very great; caritasya — one who possesses such qualities; te — to you.

TRANSLATION

Maitreya continued: The greatest of all devotees, Mahārāja Pṛthu, was very powerful, and his character was liberal, magnificent and magnanimous. Thus I have described him to you as far as possible.

VERSE 4.23.31

ya idaṁ sumahat puṇyaṁ
śraddhayāvahitaḥ paṭhet
śrāvayec chṛṇuyād vāpi
sa pṛthoḥ padavīm iyāt

SYNONYMS

yaḥ — anyone; idam — this; su-mahat — very great; puṇyam — pious; śraddhayā — with great faith; avahitaḥ — with great attention; paṭhet — reads; śrāvayet — explains; śṛṇuyāt — hears; — or; api — certainly; saḥ — that person; pṛthoḥ — of King Pṛthu; padavīm — situation; iyāt — attains.

TRANSLATION

Any person who describes the great characteristics of King Pṛthu with faith and determination — whether he reads or hears of them himself or helps others to hear of them — is certain to attain the very planet which Mahārāja Pṛthu attained. In other words, such a person also returns home to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, back to Godhead.

VERSE 4.23.32

brāhmaṇo brahma-varcasvī
rājanyo jagatī-patiḥ
vaiśyaḥ paṭhan viṭ-patiḥ syāc
chūdraḥ sattamatām iyāt

SYNONYMS

brāhmaṇaḥ — the brāhmaṇas; brahma-varcasvī — one who has attained the power of spiritual success; rājanyaḥ — the royal order; jagatī-patiḥ — the king of the world; vaiśyaḥ — the mercantile class of men; paṭhan — by reading; viṭ-patiḥ — becomes master of animals; syāt — becomes; śūdraḥ — the laborer class of men; sattama-tām — the position of a great devotee; iyāt — attains.

TRANSLATION

If one hears of the characteristics of Pṛthu Mahārāja and is a brāhmaṇa, he becomes perfectly qualified with brahminical powers; if he is a kṣatriya, he becomes a king of the world; if he is a vaiśya, he becomes a master of other vaiśyas and many animals; and if he is a śūdra, he becomes the topmost devotee.

VERSE 4.23.33

triḥ kṛtva idam ākarṇya
naro nāry athavādṛtā
aprajaḥ su-prajatamo
nirdhano dhanavattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

triḥ — thrice; kṛtvaḥ — repeating; idam — this; ākarṇya — hearing; naraḥ — man; nārī — woman; athavā — or; ādṛtā — in great respect; aprajaḥ — one who has no children; su-praja-tamaḥ — surrounded by many children; nirdhanaḥ — without any money; dhana-vat — rich; tamaḥ — the greatest.

TRANSLATION

It does not matter whether one is a man or woman. Anyone who, with great respect, hears this narration of Mahārāja Pṛthu will become the parent of many children if without children, and will become the richest if without money.

VERSE 4.23.34

aspaṣṭa-kīrtiḥ suyaśā
mūrkho bhavati paṇḍitaḥ
idaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ puṁsām
amaṅgalya-nivāraṇam

SYNONYMS

aspaṣṭa-kīrtiḥ — unmanifested reputation; su-yaśāḥ — very famous; mūrkhaḥ — illiterate; bhavati — becomes; paṇḍitaḥ — learned; idam — this; svasti-ayanam — auspiciousness; puṁsām — of the men; amaṅgalya — inauspiciousness; nivāraṇam — prohibiting.

TRANSLATION

Also, one who hears this narration three times will become very reputable if he is not recognized in society, and he will become a great scholar if he is illiterate. In other words, hearing of the narrations of Pṛthu Mahārāja is so auspicious that it drives away all bad luck.

VERSE 4.23.35

dhanyaṁ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṁ
svargyaṁ kali-malāpaham
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṇāṁ
samyak siddhim abhīpsubhiḥ
śraddhayaitad anuśrāvyaṁ
caturṇāṁ kāraṇaṁ param

SYNONYMS

dhanyam — the source of riches; yaśasyam — the source of reputation; āyuṣyam — the source of an increased span of life; svargyam — the source of elevation to the heavenly planets; kali — of the Age of Kali; mala-apaham — decreasing the contamination; dharma — religion; artha — economic development; kāma — sense gratification; mokṣāṇām — of liberation; samyak — completely; siddhim — perfection; abhīpsubhiḥ — by those desiring; śraddhayā — with great respect; etat — this narration; anuśrāvyam — must one hear; caturṇām — of the four; kāraṇam — cause; param — ultimate.

TRANSLATION

By hearing the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja, one can become great, increase his duration of life, gain promotion to the heavenly planets and counteract the contaminations of this Age of Kali. In addition, one can promote the causes of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. Therefore from all sides it is advisable for a materialistic person who is interested in such things to read and hear the narrations of the life and character of Pṛthu Mahārāja.

VERSE 4.23.36

vijayābhimukho rājā
śrutvaitad abhiyāti yān
baliṁ tasmai haranty agre
rājānaḥ pṛthave yathā

SYNONYMS

vijaya-abhimukhaḥ — one who is about to start for victory; rājā — king; śrutvā — hearing; etat — this; abhiyāti — starts; yān — on the chariot; balim — taxes; tasmai — unto him; haranti — present; agre — before; rājānaḥ — other kings; pṛthave — unto King Pṛthu; yathā — as it was done.

TRANSLATION

If a king, who is desirous of attaining victory and ruling power, chants the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja three times before going forth on his chariot, all subordinate kings will automatically render all kinds of taxes unto him — as they rendered them unto Mahārāja Pṛthu — simply upon his order.

VERSE 4.23.37

muktānya-saṅgo bhagavaty
amalāṁ bhaktim udvahan
vainyasya caritaṁ puṇyaṁ
śṛṇuyāc chrāvayet paṭhet

SYNONYMS

mukta-anya-saṅgaḥ — being freed from all material contamination; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; amalām — unalloyed; bhaktim — devotional service; udvahan — carrying out; vainyasya — of the son of Mahārāja Vena; caritam — character; puṇyam — pious; śṛṇuyāt — must hear; śrāvayet — must induce others to hear; paṭhet — and go on reading.

TRANSLATION

A pure devotee who is executing the different processes of devotional service may be situated in the transcendental position, being completely absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but even he, while discharging devotional service, must hear, read and induce others to hear about the character and life of Pṛthu Mahārāja.

VERSE 4.23.38

vaicitravīryābhihitaṁ
mahan-māhātmya-sūcakam
asmin kṛtam atimartyaṁ
pārthavīṁ gatim āpnuyāt

SYNONYMS

vaicitravīrya — O son of Vicitravīrya (Vidura); abhihitam — explained; mahat — great; māhātmya — greatness; sūcakam — awakening; asmin — in this; kṛtam — performed; ati-martyam — uncommon; pārthavīm — in connection with Pṛthu Mahārāja; gatim — advancement, destination; āpnuyāt — one should achieve.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, I have as far as possible spoken the narrations about Pṛthu Mahārāja, which enrich one’s devotional attitude. Whoever takes advantage of these benefits also goes back home, back to Godhead, like Mahārāja Pṛthu.

VERSE 4.23.39

anudinam idam ādareṇa śṛṇvan
pṛthu-caritaṁ prathayan vimukta-saṅgaḥ
bhagavati bhava-sindhu-pota-pāde
sa ca nipuṇāṁ labhate ratiṁ manuṣyaḥ

SYNONYMS

anu-dinam — day after day; idam — this; ādareṇa — with great respect; śṛṇvan — hearing; pṛthu-caritam — the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja; prathayan — chanting; vimukta — liberated; saṅgaḥ — association; bhagavati — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhava-sindhu — the ocean of nescience; pota — the boat; pāde — whose lotus feet; saḥ — he; ca — also; nipuṇām — complete; labhate — achieves; ratim — attachment; manuṣyaḥ — the person.

TRANSLATION

Whoever, with great reverence and adoration, regularly reads, chants and describes the history of Mahārāja Pṛthu’s activities will certainly increase unflinching faith and attraction for the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord’s lotus feet are the boat by which one can cross the ocean of nescience.