Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 5 · Chapter 15

The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

5.15.1

श्रीशुक उवाच भरतस्यात्मज: सुमतिर्नामाभिहितो यमु ह वाव केचित्पाखण्डिन ऋषभपदवीमनुवर्तमानं चानार्या अवेदसमाम्नातां देवतां स्वमनीषया पापीयस्या कलौ कल्पयिष्यन्ति ॥ १ ॥

sri-suka uvaca bharatasyatmajah sumatir namabhihito yam u ha vava kecit pakhandina rsabha-padavim anuvartamanam canarya aveda-samamnatam devatam sva-manisaya papiyasya kalau kalpayisyanti.

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: The son of Maharaja Bharata known as Sumati followed the path of Rsabhadeva, but some unscrupulous people imagined him to be Lord Buddha himself. These people, who were actually atheistic and of bad character, took up the Vedic principles in an imaginary, infamous way to support their activities. Thus these sinful people accepted Sumati as Lord Buddhadeva and propagated the theory that everyone should follow the principles of Sumati. In this way they were carried away by mental concoction.

5.15.2

तस्माद्‍वृद्धसेनायां देवताजिन्नाम पुत्रोऽभवत् ॥ २ ॥

tasmad vrddhasenayam devatajin-nama putro ’bhavat.

From Sumati, a son named Devatajit was born by the womb of his wife named Vrddhasena.

5.15.3

अथासुर्यां तत्तनयो देवद्युम्नस्ततो धेनुमत्यां सुत: परमेष्ठी तस्य सुवर्चलायां प्रतीह उपजात: ॥ ३ ॥

athasuryam tat-tanayo devadyumnas tato dhenumatyam sutah paramesthi tasya suvarcalayam pratiha upajatah.

Thereafter, in the womb of Asuri, the wife of Devatajit, a son named Devadyumna was begotten. Devadyumna begot in the womb of his wife, Dhenumati, a son named Paramesthi. Paramesthi begot a son named Pratiha in the womb of his wife, Suvarcala.

5.15.4

य आत्मविद्यामाख्याय स्वयं संशुद्धो महापुरुषमनुसस्मार ॥ ४ ॥

ya atma-vidyam akhyaya svayam samsuddho maha-purusam anusasmara.

King Pratiha personally propagated the principles of self-realization. In this way, not only was he purified, but he became a great devotee of the Supreme Person, Lord Visnu, and directly realized Him.

5.15.5

प्रतीहात्सुवर्चलायां प्रतिहर्त्रादयस्त्रय आसन्निज्याकोविदा: सूनव: प्रतिहर्तु: स्तुत्यामजभूमानावजनिषाताम् ॥ ५ ॥

pratihat suvarcalayam pratihartradayas traya asann ijya-kovidah sunavah pratihartuh stutyam aja-bhumanav ajanisatam.

In the womb of his wife Suvarcala, Pratiha begot three sons, named Pratiharta, Prastota and Udgata. These three sons were very expert in performing Vedic rituals. Pratiharta begot two sons, named Aja and Bhuma, in the womb of his wife, named Stuti.

5.15.6

भूम्न ऋषिकुल्यायामुद्गीथस्तत: प्रस्तावो देवकुल्यायां प्रस्तावान्नियुत्सायां हृदयज आसीद्विभुर्विभो रत्यां च पृथुषेणस्तस्मान्नक्त आकूत्यां जज्ञे नक्ताद्‍द्रुतिपुत्रो गयो राजर्षिप्रवर उदारश्रवा अजायत साक्षाद्भ‍गवतो विष्णोर्जगद्रिरक्षिषया गृहीतसत्त्वस्य कलाऽऽत्मवत्त्वादिलक्षणेन महापुरुषतां प्राप्त: ॥ ६ ॥

bhumna rsikulyayam udgithas tatah prastavo devakulyayam prastavan niyutsayam hrdayaja asid vibhur vibho ratyam ca prthusenas tasman nakta akutyam jajne naktad druti-putro gayo rajarsi-pravara udara-srava ajayata saksad bhagavato visnor jagad-riraksisaya grhita-sattvasya kalatmavattvadi-laksanena maha-purusatam praptah.

In the womb of his wife, Rsikulya, King Bhuma begot a son named Udgitha. From Udgitha’s wife, Devakulya, a son named Prastava was born, and Prastava begot a son named Vibhu through his wife, Niyutsa. In the womb of his wife, Rati, Vibhu begot a son named Prthusena. Prthusena begot a son named Nakta in the womb of his wife, named Akuti. Nakta’s wife was Druti, and from her womb the great King Gaya was born. Gaya was very famous and pious; he was the best of saintly kings. Lord Visnu and His expansions, who are meant to protect the universe, are always situated in the transcendental mode of goodness, known as visuddha-sattva. Being the direct expansion of Lord Visnu, King Gaya was also situated in the visuddha-sattva. Because of this, Maharaja Gaya was fully equipped with transcendental knowledge. Therefore he was called Mahapurusa.

5.15.7

स वै स्वधर्मेण प्रजापालन पोषणप्रीणनोपलालनानुशासनलक्षणेनेज्यादिना च भगवति महापुरुषे परावरे ब्रह्मणि सर्वात्मनार्पितपरमार्थलक्षणेन ब्रह्मविच्चरणानुसेवयाऽऽपादितभगवद्‍भक्तियोगेन चाभीक्ष्णश: परिभावितातिशुद्ध मतिरुपरतानात्म्य आत्मनि स्वयमुपलभ्यमानब्रह्मात्मानुभवोऽपि निरभिमान एवावनिमजूगुपत् ॥ ७ ॥

sa vai sva-dharmena praja-palana-posana-prinanopalalananusasana-laksanenejyadina ca bhagavati maha-puruse paravare brahmani sarvatmanarpita-paramartha-laksanena brahmavic-carananusevayapadita-bhagavad-bhakti-yogena cabhiksnasah paribhavitati-suddha-matir uparatanatmya atmani svayam upalabhyamana-brahmatmanubhavo ’pi nirabhimana evavanim ajugupat.

King Gaya gave full protection and security to the citizens so that their personal property would not be disturbed by undesirable elements. He also saw that there was sufficient food to feed all the citizens (This is called posana.) He would sometimes distribute gifts to the citizens to satisfy them (This is called prinana.) He would sometimes call meetings and satisfy the citizens with sweet words (This is called upalalana.) He would also give them good instructions on how to become first-class citizens (This is called anusasana.) Such were the characteristics of King Gaya’s royal order. Besides all this, King Gaya was a householder who strictly observed the rules and regulations of household life. He performed sacrifices and was an unalloyed pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was called Mahapurusa because as a king he gave the citizens all facilities, and as a householder he executed all his duties so that at the end he became a strict devotee of the Supreme Lord. As a devotee, he was always ready to give respect to other devotees and to engage in the devotional service of the Lord. This is the bhakti-yoga process. Due to all these transcendental activities, King Gaya was always free from the bodily conception. He was full in Brahman realization, and consequently he was always jubilant. He did not experience material lamentation. Although he was perfect in all respects, he was not proud, nor was he anxious to rule the kingdom.

5.15.8

तस्येमां गाथां पाण्डवेय पुराविद उपगायन्ति ॥ ८ ॥

tasyemam gatham pandaveya puravida upagayanti.

My dear King Pariksit, those who are learned scholars in the histories of the Puranas eulogize and glorify King Gaya with the following verses.

5.15.9

गयं नृप: क: प्रतियाति कर्मभि-र्यज्वाभिमानी बहुविद्धर्मगोप्ता । समागतश्री: सदसस्पति: सतांसत्सेवकोऽन्यो भगवत्कलामृते ॥ ९ ॥

gayam nrpah kah pratiyati karmabhir yajvabhimani bahuvid dharma-gopta samagata-srih sadasas-patih satam sat-sevako ’nyo bhagavat-kalam rte

The great King Gaya used to perform all kinds of Vedic rituals. He was highly intelligent and expert in studying all the Vedic literatures. He maintained the religious principles and possessed all kinds of opulence. He was a leader among gentlemen and a servant of the devotees. He was a totally qualified plenary expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5.15.10

यमभ्यषिञ्चन् परया मुदा सती:सत्याशिषो दक्षकन्या: सरिद्भ‍ि: । यस्य प्रजानां दुदुहे धराऽऽशिषोनिराशिषो गुणवत्सस्‍नुतोधा: ॥ १० ॥

yam abhyasincan paraya muda satih satyasiso daksa-kanyah saridbhih yasya prajanam duduhe dharasiso nirasiso guna-vatsa-snutodhah

All the chaste and honest daughters of Maharaja Daksa, such as Sraddha, Maitri and Daya, whose blessings were always effective, bathed Maharaja Gaya with sanctified water. Indeed, they were very satisfied with Maharaja Gaya. The plane earth personified came as a cow, and, as though she saw her calf, she delivered milk profusely when she saw all the good qualities of Maharaja Gaya. In other words, Maharaja Gaya was able to derive all benefits from the earth and thus satisfy the desires of his citizens. However, he personally had no desire.

5.15.11

छन्दांस्यकामस्य च यस्य कामान्दुदूहुराजह्रुरथो बलिं नृपा: । प्रत्यञ्चिता युधि धर्मेण विप्रायदाशिषां षष्ठमंशं परेत्य ॥ ११ ॥

chandamsy akamasya ca yasya kaman duduhur ajahrur atho balim nrpah pratyancita yudhi dharmena vipra yadasisam sastham amsam paretya

Although King Gaya had no personal desire for sense gratification, all his desires were fulfilled by virtue of his performance of Vedic rituals. All the kings with whom Maharaja Gaya had to fight were forced to fight on religious principles. They were very satisfied with his fighting, and they would present all kinds of gifts to him. Similarly, all the brahmanas in his kingdom were very satisfied with King Gaya’s munificent charities. Consequently the brahmanas contributed a sixth of their pious activities for King Gaya’s benefit in the next life.

5.15.12

यस्याध्वरे भगवानध्वरात्मामघोनि माद्यत्युरुसोमपीथे । श्रद्धाविशुद्धाचलभक्तियोग-समर्पितेज्याफलमाजहार ॥ १२ ॥

yasyadhvare bhagavan adhvaratma maghoni madyaty uru-soma-pithe sraddha-visuddhacala-bhakti-yoga- samarpitejya-phalam ajahara

In Maharaja Gaya’s sacrifices, there was a great supply of the intoxicant known as soma. King Indra used to come and become intoxicated by drinking large quantities of soma-rasa. Also, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu (the yajna-purusa) also came and personally accepted all the sacrifices offered unto Him with pure and firm devotion in the sacrificial arena.

5.15.13

यत्प्रीणनाद्ब‍‌र्हिषि देवतिर्यङ्-मनुष्यवीरुत्तृणमाविरिञ्चात् । प्रीयेत सद्य: स ह विश्वजीव:प्रीत: स्वयं प्रीतिमगाद्गयस्य ॥ १३ ॥

yat-prinanad barhisi deva-tiryan- manusya-virut-trnam avirincat priyeta sadyah sa ha visva-jivah pritah svayam pritim agad gayasya

When the Supreme Lord is pleased by a person’s actions, automatically all the demigods, human beings, animals, birds, bees, creepers, trees, grass and all other living entities, beginning with Lord Brahma, are pleased. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supersoul of everyone, and He is by nature fully pleased. Nonetheless, He came to the arena of Maharaja Gaya and said, I am fully pleased

5.15.14-15

गयाद्गयन्त्यां चित्ररथ: सुगतिरवरोधन इति त्रय: पुत्रा बभूवुश्चित्ररथादूर्णायां सम्राडजनिष्ट तत उत्कलायां मरीचिर्मरीचे ॥ १४ ॥ र्बिन्दुमत्यां बिन्दुमानुदपद्यत तस्मात्सरघायां मधुर्नामाभवन्मधो: सुमनसि वीरव्रतस्ततो भोजायां मन्थुप्रमन्थू जज्ञाते मन्थो: सत्यायां भौवनस्ततो दूषणायां त्वष्टाजनिष्ट त्वष्टुर्विरोचनायां विरजो विरजस्य शतजित्प्रवरं पुत्रशतं कन्या च विषूच्यां किल जातम् ॥ १५ ॥

gayad gayantyam citrarathah sugatir avarodhana iti trayah putra babhuvus citrarathad urnayam samrad ajanista; tata utkalayam maricir maricer bindumatyam bindum anudapadyata tasmat saraghayam madhur namabhavan madhoh sumanasi viravratas tato bhojayam manthu-pramanthu jajnate manthoh satyayam bhauvanas tato dusanayam tvastajanista tvastur virocanayam virajo virajasya satajit-pravaram putra-satam kanya ca visucyam kila jatam.

In the womb of Gayanti, Maharaja Gaya begot three sons, named Citraratha, Sugati and Avarodhana. In the womb of his wife Urna, Citraratha begot a son named Samrat. The wife of Samrat was Utkala, and in her womb Samrat begot a son named Marici. In the womb of his wife Bindumati, Marici begot a son named Bindu. In the womb of his wife Saragha, Bindu begot a son named Madhu. In the womb of his wife named Sumana, Madhu begot a son named Viravrata. In the womb of his wife Bhoja, Viravrata begot two sons named Manthu and Pramanthu. In the womb of his wife Satya, Manthu begot a son named Bhauvana, and in the womb of his wife Dusana, Bhauvana begot a son named Tvasta. In the womb of his wife Virocana, Tvasta begot a son named Viraja. The wife of Viraja was Visuci, and in her womb Viraja begot one hundred sons and one daughter. Of all these sons, the son named Satajit was predominant.

5.15.16

तत्रायं श्लोक:— प्रैयव्रतं वंशमिमं विरजश्चरमोद्भ‍व: । अकरोदत्यलं कीर्त्या विष्णु: सुरगणं यथा ॥ १६ ॥

tatrayam slokah—— praiyavratam vamsam imam virajas caramodbhavah akarod aty-alam kirtya visnuh sura-ganam yatha

There is a famous verse about King Viraja Because of his high qualities and wide fame, King Viraja became the jewel of the dynasty of King Priyavrata, just as Lord Visnu, by His transcendental potency, decorates and blesses the demigods