Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 4 · Chapter 20
maitreya uvaca bhagavan api vaikunthah sakam maghavata vibhuh yajnair yajna-patis tusto yajna-bhuk tam abhasata
The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, being very much satisfied by the performance of ninety-nine horse sacrifices, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, appeared on the scene. Accompanying Him was King Indra. Lord Visnu then began to speak.
श्रीभगवानुवाच एष तेऽकार्षीद्भङ्गं हयमेधशतस्य ह । क्षमापयत आत्मानममुष्य क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥ २ ॥
sri-bhagavan uvaca esa te ’karsid bhangam haya-medha-satasya ha ksamapayata atmanam amusya ksantum arhasi
Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, said: My dear King Prthu, Indra, the King of heaven, has disturbed your execution of one hundred sacrifices. Now he has come with Me to be forgiven by you. Therefore excuse him.
सुधिय: साधवो लोके नरदेव नरोत्तमा: । नाभिद्रुह्यन्ति भूतेभ्यो यर्हि नात्मा कलेवरम् ॥ ३ ॥
sudhiyah sadhavo loke naradeva narottamah nabhidruhyanti bhutebhyo yarhi natma kalevaram
O King, one who is advanced in intelligence and eager to perform welfare activities for others is considered best amongst human beings. An advanced human being is never malicious to others. Those with advanced intelligence are always conscious that this material body is different from the soul.
पुरुषा यदि मुह्यन्ति त्वादृशा देवमायया । श्रम एव परं जातो दीर्घया वृद्धसेवया ॥ ४ ॥
purusa yadi muhyanti tvadrsa deva-mayaya srama eva param jato dirghaya vrddha-sevaya
If a personality like you, who are so much advanced because of executing the instructions of the previous acaryas, is carried away by the influence of My material energy, then all your advancement may be considered simply a waste of time.
अत: कायमिमं विद्वानविद्याकामकर्मभि: । आरब्ध इति नैवास्मिन्प्रतिबुद्धोऽनुषज्जते ॥ ५ ॥
atah kayam imam vidvan avidya-kama-karmabhih arabdha iti naivasmin pratibuddho ’nusajjate
Those who are in full knowledge of the bodily conception of life, who know that this body is composed of nescience, desires and activities resulting from illusion, do not become addicted to the body.
असंसक्त: शरीरेऽस्मिन्नमुनोत्पादिते गृहे । अपत्ये द्रविणे वापि क: कुर्यान्ममतां बुध: ॥ ६ ॥
asamsaktah sarire ’sminn amunotpadite grhe apatye dravine vapi kah kuryan mamatam budhah
How can a highly learned person who has absolutely no affinity for the bodily conception of life be affected by the bodily conception in regard to house, children, wealth and similar other bodily productions?
एक: शुद्ध: स्वयंज्योतिर्निर्गुणोऽसौ गुणाश्रय: । सर्वगोऽनावृत: साक्षी निरात्मात्मात्मन: पर: ॥ ७ ॥
ekah suddhah svayam-jyotir nirguno ’sau gunasrayah sarva-go ’navrtah saksi niratmatmatmanah parah
The individual soul is one, Pure, nonmaterial and self-effulgent. He is the reservoir of all good qualities, and He is all-pervading. He is without material covering, and He is the witness of all activities. He is completely distinguished from other living entities, and He is transcendental to all embodied souls.
य एवं सन्तमात्मानमात्मस्थं वेद पूरुष: । नाज्यते प्रकृतिस्थोऽपि तद्गुणै: स मयि स्थित: ॥ ८ ॥
ya evam santam atmanam atma-stham veda purusah najyate prakrti-stho ’pi tad-gunaih sa mayi sthitah
Although within the material nature, one who is thus situated in full knowledge of the Paramatma and atma is never affected by the modes of material nature, for he is always situated in My transcendental loving service.
य: स्वधर्मेण मां नित्यं निराशी: श्रद्धयान्वित: । भजते शनकैस्तस्य मनो राजन् प्रसीदति ॥ ९ ॥
yah sva-dharmena mam nityam nirasih sraddhayanvitah bhajate sanakais tasya mano rajan prasidati
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, continued: My dear King Prthu, when one situated in his occupational duty engages in My loving service without motive for material gain, he gradually becomes very satisfied within.
परित्यक्तगुण: सम्यग्दर्शनो विशदाशय: । शान्तिं मे समवस्थानं ब्रह्म कैवल्यमश्नुते ॥ १० ॥
parityakta-gunah samyag darsano visadasayah santim me samavasthanam brahma kaivalyam asnute
When the heart is cleansed of all material contamination, the devotee’s mind becomes broader and transparent, and he can see things equally. At that stage of life there is peace, and one is situated equally with Me as sac-cid-ananda-vigraha (Bs.5.1).
उदासीनमिवाध्यक्षं द्रव्यज्ञानक्रियात्मनाम् । कूटस्थमिममात्मानं यो वेदाप्नोति शोभनम् ॥ ११ ॥
udasinam ivadhyaksam dravya-jnana-kriyatmanam kuta-stham imam atmanam yo vedapnoti sobhanam
Anyone who knows that this material body, made of the five gross elements, the sense organs, the working senses and the mind, is simply supervised by the fixed soul is eligible to be liberated from material bondage.
भिन्नस्य लिङ्गस्य गुणप्रवाहो द्रव्यक्रियाकारकचेतनात्मन: । दृष्टासु सम्पत्सु विपत्सु सूरयो न विक्रियन्ते मयि बद्धसौहृदा: ॥ १२ ॥
bhinnasya lingasya guna-pravaho dravya-kriya-karaka-cetanatmanah drstasu sampatsu vipatsu surayo na vikriyante mayi baddha-sauhrdah
Lord Visnu told King Prthu: My dear King, the constant change of this material world is due to the interaction of the three modes of material nature. The five elements, the senses, the demigods who control the senses, as well as the mind, which is agitated by the spirit soul—all these taken together comprise the body. Since the spirit soul is completely different from this combination of gross and subtle material elements, My devotee who is connected with Me in intense friendship and affection, being completely in knowledge, is never agitated by material happiness and distress.
सम: समानोत्तममध्यमाधम: सुखे च दु:खे च जितेन्द्रियाशय: । मयोपक्लृप्ताखिललोकसंयुतो विधत्स्व वीराखिललोकरक्षणम् ॥ १३ ॥
samah samanottama-madhyamadhamah sukhe ca duhkhe ca jitendriyasayah mayopaklptakhila-loka-samyuto vidhatsva virakhila-loka-raksanam
My dear heroic King, please keep yourself always equipoised and treat people equally, whether they are greater than you, in the intermediate stage or lower than you. Do not be disturbed by temporary distress or happiness. Fully control your mind and senses. In this transcendental position, try to execute your duty as king in whatever condition of life you may be posted by My arrangement, for your only duty here is to give protection to the citizens of your kingdom.
श्रेय: प्रजापालनमेव राज्ञो यत्साम्पराये सुकृतात् षष्ठमंशम् । हर्तान्यथा हृतपुण्य: प्रजाना- मरक्षिता करहारोऽघमत्ति ॥ १४ ॥
sreyah praja-palanam eva rajno yat samparaye sukrtat sastham amsam hartanyatha hrta-punyah prajanam araksita kara-haro ’gham atti
To give protection to the general mass of people who are citizens of the state is the prescribed occupational duty for a king. By acting in that way, the king in his next life shares one sixth of the result of the pious activities of the citizens. But a king or executive head of state who simply collects taxes from the citizens but does not give them proper protection as human beings has the results of his own pious activities taken away by the citizens, and in exchange for his not giving protection he becomes liable to punishment for the impious activities of his subjects.
एवं द्विजाग्र्यानुमतानुवृत्त धर्मप्रधानोऽन्यतमोऽवितास्या: । ह्रस्वेन कालेन गृहोपयातान् द्रष्टासि सिद्धाननुरक्तलोक: ॥ १५ ॥
evam dvijagryanumatanuvrtta- dharma-pradhano ’nyatamo ’vitasyah hrasvena kalena grhopayatan drastasi siddhan anurakta-lokah
Lord Visnu continued: My dear King Prthu, if you continue to protect the citizens according to the instructions of the learned brahmana authorities, as they are received by the disciplic succession—by hearing—from master to disciple, and if you follow the religious principles laid down by them, without attachment to ideas manufactured by mental concoction, then every one of your citizens will be happy and will love you, and very soon you will be able to see such already liberated personalities as the four Kumaras (Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanat-kumara).
वरं च मत्कञ्चन मानवेन्द्र वृणीष्व तेऽहं गुणशीलयन्त्रित: । नाहं मखैर्वै सुलभस्तपोभि- र्योगेन वा यत्समचित्तवर्ती ॥ १६ ॥
varam ca mat kancana manavendra vrnisva te ’ham guna-sila-yantritah naham makhair vai sulabhas tapobhir yogena va yat sama-citta-varti
My dear King, I am very captivated by your elevated qualities and excellent behavior, and thus I am very favorably inclined toward you. You may therefore ask from Me any benediction you like. One who does not possess elevated qualities and behavior cannot possibly achieve My favor simply by performance of sacrifices, severe austerities or mystic yoga. But I always remain equipoised in the heart of one who is also equipoised in all circumstances.
मैत्रेय उवाच स इत्थं लोकगुरुणा विष्वक्सेनेन विश्वजित् । अनुशासित आदेशं शिरसा जगृहे हरे: ॥ १७ ॥
maitreya uvaca sa ittham loka-guruna visvaksenena visva-jit anusasita adesam sirasa jagrhe hareh
The great saint Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, in this way Maharaja Prthu, the conqueror of the entire world, accepted the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead on his head.
स्पृशन्तं पादयो: प्रेम्णा व्रीडितं स्वेन कर्मणा । शतक्रतुं परिष्वज्य विद्वेषं विससर्ज ह ॥ १८ ॥
sprsantam padayoh premna vriditam svena karmana sata-kratum parisvajya vidvesam visasarja ha
As King Indra was standing by, he became ashamed of his own activities and fell down before King Prthu to touch his lotus feet. But Prthu Maharaja immediately embraced him in great ecstasy and gave up all envy against him for his having stolen the horse meant for the sacrifice.
भगवानथ विश्वात्मा पृथुनोपहृतार्हण: । समुज्जिहानया भक्त्या गृहीतचरणाम्बुज: ॥ १९ ॥
bhagavan atha visvatma prthunopahrtarhanah samujjihanaya bhaktya grhita-caranambujah
King Prthu abundantly worshiped the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was so merciful to him. While worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord, Prthu Maharaja gradually increased his ecstasy in devotional service.
प्रस्थानाभिमुखोऽप्येनमनुग्रहविलम्बित: । पश्यन् पद्मपलाशाक्षो न प्रतस्थे सुहृत्सताम् ॥ २० ॥
prasthanabhimukho ’py enam anugraha-vilambitah pasyan padma-palasakso na pratasthe suhrt satam
The Lord was just about to leave, but because He was so greatly inclined toward the behavior of King Prthu, He did not depart. Seeing the behavior of Maharaja Prthu with His lotus eyes, He was detained because He is always the well-wisher of His devotees.
स आदिराजो रचिताञ्जलिर्हरिं विलोकितुं नाशकदश्रुलोचन: । न किञ्चनोवाच स बाष्पविक्लवो हृदोपगुह्यामुमधादवस्थित: ॥ २१ ॥
sa adi-rajo racitanjalir harim vilokitum nasakad asru-locanah na kincanovaca sa baspa-viklavo hrdopaguhyamum adhad avasthitah
The original king, Maharaja Prthu, his eyes full of tears and his voice faltering and choked up, could neither see the Lord very distinctly nor speak to address the Lord in any way. He simply embraced the Lord within his heart and remained standing in that way with folded hands.
अथावमृज्याश्रुकला विलोकयन्- नतृप्तदृग्गोचरमाह पूरुषम् । पदा स्पृशन्तं क्षितिमंस उन्नते विन्यस्तहस्ताग्रमुरङ्गविद्विष: ॥ २२ ॥
athavamrjyasru-kala vilokayann atrpta-drg-gocaram aha purusam pada sprsantam ksitim amsa unnate vinyasta-hastagram uranga-vidvisah
The Supreme Personality of Godhead stood with His lotus feet almost touching the ground while He rested the front of His hand on the raised shoulder of Garuda, the enemy of the snakes. Maharaja Prthu, wiping the tears from his eyes, tried to look upon the Lord, but it appeared that the King was not fully satisfied by looking at Him. Thus the King offered the following prayers.
पृथुरुवाच वरान्विभो त्वद्वरदेश्वराद् बुध: कथं वृणीते गुणविक्रियात्मनाम् । ये नारकाणामपि सन्ति देहिनां तानीश कैवल्यपते वृणे न च ॥ २३ ॥
prthur uvaca varan vibho tvad varadesvarad budhah katham vrnite guna-vikriyatmanam ye narakanam api santi dehinam tan isa kaivalya-pate vrne na ca
My dear Lord, You are the best of the demigods who can offer benedictions. Why, therefore, should any learned person ask You for benedictions meant for living entities bewildered by the modes of nature? Such benedictions are available automatically, even in the lives of living entities suffering in hellish conditions. My dear Lord, You can certainly bestow merging into Your existence, but I do not wish to have such a benediction.
न कामये नाथ तदप्यहं क्वचिन् न यत्र युष्मच्चरणाम्बुजासव: । महत्तमान्तर्हृदयान्मुखच्युतो विधत्स्व कर्णायुतमेष मे वर: ॥ २४ ॥
na kamaye natha tad apy aham kvacin na yatra yusmac-caranambujasavah mahattamantar-hrdayan mukha-cyuto vidhatsva karnayutam esa me varah
My dear Lord, I therefore do not wish to have the benediction of merging into Your existence, a benediction in which there is no existence of the nectarean beverage of Your lotus feet. I want the benediction of at least one million ears, for thus I may be able to hear about the glories of Your lotus feet from the mouths of Your pure devotees.
स उत्तमश्लोक महन्मुखच्युतो भवत्पदाम्भोजसुधा कणानिल: । स्मृतिं पुनर्विस्मृततत्त्ववर्त्मनां कुयोगिनां नो वितरत्यलं वरै: ॥ २५ ॥
sa uttamasloka mahan-mukha-cyuto bhavat-padambhoja-sudha kananilah smrtim punar vismrta-tattva-vartmanam kuyoginam no vitaraty alam varaih
My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.
यश: शिवं सुश्रव आर्यसङ्गमे यदृच्छया चोपशृणोति ते सकृत् । कथं गुणज्ञो विरमेद्विना पशुं श्रीर्यत्प्रवव्रे गुणसङ्ग्रहेच्छया ॥ २६ ॥
yasah sivam susrava arya-sangame yadrcchaya copasrnoti te sakrt katham guna-jno viramed vina pasum srir yat pravavre guna-sangrahecchaya
My dear highly glorified Lord, if one, in the association of pure devotees, hears even once the glories of Your activities, he does not, unless he is nothing but an animal, give up the association of devotees, for no intelligent person would be so careless as to leave their association. The perfection of chanting and hearing about Your glories was accepted even by the goddess of fortune, who desired to hear of Your unlimited activities and transcendental glories.
अथाभजे त्वाखिलपूरुषोत्तमं गुणालयं पद्मकरेव लालस: । अप्यावयोरेकपतिस्पृधो: कलि- र्न स्यात्कृतत्वच्चरणैकतानयो: ॥ २७ ॥
athabhaje tvakhila-purusottamam gunalayam padma-kareva lalasah apy avayor eka-pati-sprdhoh kalir na syat krta-tvac-caranaika-tanayoh
Now I wish to engage in the service of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to serve just like the goddess of fortune, who carries a lotus flower in her hand, because His Lordship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. I am afraid that the goddess of fortune and I would quarrel because both of us would be attentively engaged in the same service.
जगज्जनन्यां जगदीश वैशसं स्यादेव यत्कर्मणि न: समीहितम् । करोषि फल्ग्वप्युरु दीनवत्सल: स्व एव धिष्ण्येऽभिरतस्य किं तया ॥ २८ ॥
jagaj-jananyam jagad-isa vaisasam syad eva yat-karmani nah samihitam karosi phalgv apy uru dina-vatsalah sva eva dhisnye ’bhiratasya kim taya
My dear Lord of the universe, the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, is the mother of the universe, and yet I think that she may be angry with me because of my intruding upon her service and acting on that very platform to which she is so much attached. Yet I am hopeful that even though there is some misunderstanding, You will take my part, for You are very much inclined to the poor and You always magnify even insignificant service unto You. Therefore even though she becomes angry, I think that there is no harm for You, because You are so self-sufficient that You can do without her.
भजन्त्यथ त्वामत एव साधवो व्युदस्तमायागुणविभ्रमोदयम् । भवत्पदानुस्मरणादृते सतां निमित्तमन्यद्भगवन्न विद्महे ॥ २९ ॥
bhajanty atha tvam ata eva sadhavo vyudasta-maya-guna-vibhramodayam bhavat-padanusmaranad rte satam nimittam anyad bhagavan na vidmahe
Great saintly persons who are always liberated take to Your devotional service because only by devotional service can one be relieved from the illusions of material existence. O my Lord, there is no reason for the liberated souls to take shelter at Your lotus feet except that such souls are constantly thinking of Your feet.
मन्ये गिरं ते जगतां विमोहिनीं वरं वृणीष्वेति भजन्तमात्थ यत् । वाचा नु तन्त्या यदि ते जनोऽसित: कथं पुन: कर्म करोति मोहित: ॥ ३० ॥
manye giram te jagatam vimohinim varam vrnisveti bhajantam attha yat vaca nu tantya yadi te jano ’sitah katham punah karma karoti mohitah
My dear Lord, what You have said to Your unalloyed devotee is certainly very much bewildering. The allurements You offer in the Vedas are certainly not suitable for pure devotees. People in general, bound by the sweet words of the Vedas, engage themselves again and again in fruitive activities, enamored by the results of their actions.
त्वन्माययाद्धा जन ईश खण्डितो यदन्यदाशास्त ऋतात्मनोऽबुध: । यथा चरेद् बालहितं पिता स्वयं तथा त्वमेवार्हसि न: समीहितुम् ॥ ३१ ॥
tvan-mayayaddha jana isa khandito yad anyad asasta rtatmano ’budhah yatha cared bala-hitam pita svayam tatha tvam evarhasi nah samihitum
My Lord, due to Your illusory energy, all living beings in this material world have forgotten their real constitutional position, and out of ignorance they are always desirous of material happiness in the form of society, friendship and love. Therefore, please do not ask me to take some material benefits from You, but as a father, not waiting for the son’s demand, does everything for the benefit of the son, please bestow upon me whatever You think best for me.
मैत्रेय उवाच इत्यादिराजेन नुत: स विश्वदृक् तमाह राजन्मयि भक्तिरस्तु ते । दिष्ट्येदृशी धीर्मयि ते कृता यया मायां मदीयां तरति स्म दुस्त्यजाम् ॥ ३२ ॥
maitreya uvaca ity adi-rajena nutah sa visva-drk tam aha rajan mayi bhaktir astu te distyedrsi dhir mayi te krta yaya mayam madiyam tarati sma dustyajam
The great sage Maitreya continued by saying that the Lord, the seer of the universe, after hearing Prthu Maharaja’s prayer, addressed the King: My dear King, may you always be blessed by engaging in My devotional service. Only by such purity of purpose, as you yourself very intelligently express, can one cross over the insurmountable illusory energy of maya.
तत्त्वं कुरु मयादिष्टमप्रमत्त: प्रजापते । मदादेशकरो लोक: सर्वत्राप्नोति शोभनम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tat tvam kuru mayadistam apramattah prajapate mad-adesa-karo lokah sarvatrapnoti sobhanam
My dear King, O protector of the citizens, henceforward be very careful to execute My orders and not be misled by anything. Anyone who lives in that way, simply carrying out My orders faithfully, will always find good fortune all over the world.
मैत्रेय उवाच इति वैन्यस्य राजर्षे: प्रतिनन्द्यार्थवद्वच: । पूजितोऽनुगृहीत्वैनं गन्तुं चक्रेऽच्युतो मतिम् ॥ ३४ ॥
maitreya uvaca iti vainyasya rajarseh pratinandyarthavad vacah pujito ’nugrhitvainam gantum cakre ’cyuto matim
The great saint Maitreya told Vidura: The Supreme Personality of Godhead amply appreciated the meaningful prayers of Maharaja Prthu. Thus, after being properly worshiped by the King, the Lord blessed him and decided to depart.
देवर्षिपितृगन्धर्वसिद्धचारणपन्नगा: । किन्नराप्सरसो मर्त्या: खगा भूतान्यनेकश: ॥ ३५ ॥ यज्ञेश्वरधिया राज्ञा वाग्वित्ताञ्जलिभक्तित: । सभाजिता ययु: सर्वे वैकुण्ठानुगतास्तत: ॥ ३६ ॥
devarsi-pitr-gandharva- siddha-carana-pannagah kinnarapsaraso martyah khaga bhutany anekasah yajnesvara-dhiya rajna vag-vittanjali-bhaktitah sabhajita yayuh sarve vaikunthanugatas tatah
King Prthu worshiped the demigods, the great sages, the inhabitants of Pitrloka, the inhabitants of Gandharvaloka, and those of Siddhaloka, Caranaloka, Pannagaloka, Kinnaraloka, Apsaroloka, the earthly planets and the planets of the birds. He also worshiped many other living entities who presented themselves in the sacrificial arena. With folded hands he worshiped all these, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the personal associates of the Lord, by offering sweet words and as much wealth as possible. After this function, they all went back to their respective abodes, following in the footsteps of Lord Visnu.
भगवानपि राजर्षे: सोपाध्यायस्य चाच्युत: । हरन्निव मनोऽमुष्य स्वधाम प्रत्यपद्यत ॥ ३७ ॥
bhagavan api rajarseh sopadhyayasya cacyutah harann iva mano ’musya sva-dhama pratyapadyata
The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead, having captivated the minds of the King and the priests who were present, returned to His abode in the spiritual sky.
अदृष्टाय नमस्कृत्य नृप: सन्दर्शितात्मने । अव्यक्ताय च देवानां देवाय स्वपुरं ययौ ॥ ३८ ॥
adrstaya namaskrtya nrpah sandarsitatmane avyaktaya ca devanam devaya sva-puram yayau
King Prthu then offered his respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supreme Lord of all demigods. Although not an object of material vision, the Lord revealed Himself to the sight of Maharaja Prthu. After offering obeisances to the Lord, the King returned to his home.
