SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 4

(1) Maitreya said: '[He, Prithu returning to his city found that] At the golden gates and everywhere around there was the decoration of pearls, flower garlands, cloth and highly fragrant incense. (2) The pathway for his chariot, the parks and the lanes were sprinkled with water scented with sandalwood and aguru [a fragrant herb] and were decorated with flowers, fruits in their peel, precious stones, soaked grains and lamps. (3) Everything cleansed, with young lifestock, elephants for the procession and young plants and mango leaves, garlands of flowers and fruits hanging down from pillars of banana trees, it all looked very nice.

(4) The citizens and many a beautiful radiating virgin with tinkling earrings, came to meet him equipped with lamps and countless articles of worship for a welcome. (5) Though the king entering the palace was honored with the sounds of kettledrums, conchshells and vedic chanting by the priests, took he no pride in it. (6) Against the backdrop of the great show of reverence everywhere and that way pleased by the nobles and the commoners, wished he on his turn them all the best. (7) He had been so from the beginning: magnanimous in all his actions, doing great works regularly; he had become the greatest of the great and so ruling with the achievement of a repute spread the world all over, was he elevated to the Supreme of the lotus feet'."

(8) Sûta said: "O greatest of the devotees, leader of the sages [S'aunaka], after Maitreya had so befittingly expounded on the high reputation of that ideal king qualified by his countless qualities, addressed Vidura him, proving his great respect. (9) Vidura said: 'When he, Prithu, was enthroned by the great ones of learning, realized he the support of the enlightened community and could he expand by the grace of Vishnu to the strength of rule by which he managed to exploit the entire earth. (10) Who wouldn't enjoy to hear about the glories of him, about his intelligence and his chivalry to the example of which so many kings and their local rulers proceeded in procuring what they desired for their livelihood; please speak [again] to me about those good deeds.'

(11) Maitreya proceeded: 'Living in the land between the two rivers the Ganges and the Yamunâ, it appeared that his enjoying the fortune of his pious deeds was destined to go at the cost of them. (12) For everyone in the seven continents, except for the brahmins of culture and the lineage of the ones devoted to the Infallible One, there was his irrevocable order as the one ruler holding the scepter. (13) So, once upon a time, taking a vow, he started a great sacrifice and in that function there was a great assembly of the authorities of the divine, the brahmin sages, the wise kings and greatest of devotees. (14) In that great meeting he offered his obeisances to all those who respectable deserved it according their respective positions, standing in their midst like the moon does between the stars. (15) He was a tall man, well built with strong arms and a lotus-like fair complexion, eyes as bright as a sunrise, a straight nose and a beautiful face with a grave expression, high shoulders and teeth brilliant at the smile, (16) a broad chest, a firm waist with beautiful folds of skin in his abdomen like the leaf of a banana tree, a coiled navel, thighs of a golden hue and an arched instep. (17) He had fine, curly, slick black hair on his head, a neck like a conch and he was dressed in a very valuable dhotî with over his upper body a wrapper worn like a sacred thread. (18) With all the beauty of his physique was he the one appointed to give up his garments according the regulations; put on a black deerskin, with a ring of kus'agrass around his finger, he then performed as was required. (19) With starry eyes moist like the dew, he glanced over all the ones around him and began to speak, in terms of the following high discourse, in front of them to cater to their greater pleasure. (20) The like of what he reminded them of was of great beauty, flowery and very clear, of a great import and without a doubt spoken to the benefit of all.

(21) The king addressing the ones present said: 'Kindly hear, to the good fortune of all you great souls here present, how as an inquisitive man, I, as one would expect unto you dear nobles, have to commemorate the principles of religion. (22) I, carrying the scepter as the king of all the citizens am engaged in this world as the protector and employer of each one born in the context of his own established separate social order. (23) By executing that of Him, the Seer of all destiny, what is spoken of by the experts in vedic knowledge, I expect to fulfill all the objectives desired everywhere. (24) Anyone who as a king exacts taxes from the citizens, without reminding them of their respective [varnâs'rama-]duties - that one will also, to the impious of his citizens, have to give up the enjoyment of his own fortune. (25) Therefore dearest citizens, for the interest of your own welfare as well as that of your master after his death, it suffers no doubt that whatever you do not grumbling in the thought of Him who is beyond the senses, you do in service of me. (26) Please, all you present here, as people after the forefathers, after the gods, after the sages and after the sinless, take this at heart: in the hereafter does the performer share in the results he had with the ones who ordered for them as well as the ones who were in support. (27) O respectable ones, in this material world there must, as one says, be the grace of the Lord of Sacrifice, as one evidently sees the power and beauty thereafter embodied also. (28-29) Manu, Uttânapâda [Dhruva's father], Dhruva, and no doubt the great king Priyavrata and my grandfather Anga; these great and saintly personalities and also other ones of the Supreme Immortal like Prahlâda and Bali Mahârâja, acknowledge the existence of the One holding the Club. (30) Except for descendants like my father, abominable like death personified and bewildered on the path of religion, one as good as always ascribes the elevation to higher worlds and class [of economy, to the experience of pleasure and with liberation] to the One Supreme Soul. (31) By the inclination of service to the lotus feet do persons of penance instantly destroy the dirt of the mind acquired by countless births; as like with the [Ganges] water emanating from His toes they, day after day, see their gain increasing. (32) The very cleansing of the endless speculations, will by the person disgusted with it, in particular be found in the time and again acquiring of strength by taking scientifically to the shelter at the root of His lotus feet, never in taking to the material existence that is full of hindrances. (33) All you citizens, to be satisfied, be sure to be of devotion at His lotus feet according your own duty, in mind, words and in the body, by the particular qualities of your own type of work, with an open mind to fulfill all that is wanted as far as your ability reaches in the full of your conviction. (34) He is in this world worshiped for His various qualities and transcendental nature with different kinds of sacrifices performed with the physical ingredients of performances of chanting the different mantras, but for the purpose of that interest there are the names and forms on which one concentrates in the science of being without contamination in relation to His form. (35) To the primary nature [see also 3-26-10], of time, desires and duties, does this body in relation to the Almighty manifest itself in accepting [a type of] consciousness as a result of actions, as much as fire does in wood according its form and quality. (36) O all of you who with me abide by the Lord, by the Supreme Spiritual Master His distribution of mercy, and who by dint of the demigods of sacrifice, the Supreme Controller Himself and the occupational duties are on the surface of the globe incessantly and with firm determination of worship, do thus relate to me. (37) Never at any time should those who are great in opulence exercise their power over those blessed ones who are of devotion to God, nor over the ones of tolerance, penance and education; they, the twice-born, are personally greater in society than the nobles of rule. (38) The Original Person, the oldest and eternal one God of the brahminical culture, the Lord by whose lotus feet and opulences though perpetual worship the reputation of purifying the entire universe was won, also purified the great and foremost of the Supreme. (39) He, the Unlimited and Self-sufficient One in each his heart, is very dear to the ones of learning and surely is in all respects the humble following in His footsteps of that brahmin school to the satisfaction of the Controller. (40) Thanks to the regularity of his service can someone, as by nature, personally without delay achieve the satisfaction of the greatest peace of his soul by relating to Him, in the pursuit of the superior happiness that is imbibed with the oblations in the fire. (41) Although Ananta, the Lord of the Snakebed, eats through the mouths of those in knowledge of the Absolute who in faith sacrifice into the fire, is He surely never that pleased by it when one withholds Him the life-force from sacrifices brought to the devotees, for in regard of them He will never leave. (42) What the brahmin culture of the eternal, uncontaminated and beginningless illumines with faith, austerity, the auspicious and with silence, in absorption controlling the mind and the senses, is done to reflect this vedic virtue as clear as everything that is shown in a mirror. (43) O people of culture, I shall keep the dust of the lotus feet of all of them on my helmet till the end of my life; of all those who always so carry on will, glorifying with all qualities, very soon all sin be vanquished. (44) He who acquired all the brahmin qualities, he whose wealth is good conduct, he who is grateful, he who takes shelter of the learned, will without fail achieve all the wealth of God; may the Maintainer of the three worlds along with His devotee be pleased with the brahmin class, the cows and with me.'

(45) Maitreya said: 'The king speaking thus was congratulated by all the saintly people present: the elderly, the godly and the twice-born, as they were satisfied and happy minded. Along with the words 'sâdhu, sâdhu!' they said: (46) 'By one's son one becomes victorious in all the worlds and thus do the teachings become true through the fact that, to the chastising of the brahmins that put an end to the life of the most sinful father of Prithu, Vena, he has now greatly been delivered from the darkness. (47) Hiranyakas'ipu, who by repeatedly blaspheming the Supreme Lord entered the darkest regions, was also delivered because of what his son Prahlâda did. (48) May the life last for an eternity of the best of the warriors, the father of the earth, whose devotion unto the Infallible One, the one Maintainer of all the worlds, is so exemplary. (49) O, we no doubt are today, o Supreme of Purity, because of you, certain of the Lord of Liberation Mukunda, the one who is glorified in the scripture expressed in the words of Vishnu, as the worshipable Lord of the brahmins. (50) It is not so greatly wonderful o Lord, to rule over citizens for one's income; it is the nature of your affection and mercy with the living that is of greatness. (51) Today is it, because of you, more likely for us, who by the will of God are wandering and have lost their goal of life because of our past deeds, to reach the other side of the darkness of material existence. (52) Our respects we express to the existence, the person highly elevated, the one so glorified, who, accepting his duties as a ruler, is maintaining this brahmin culture by his own prowess.'

Maitreya said: '[He, Prithu returning to his city found that] At the golden gates and everywhere around there was the decoration of pearls, flower garlands, cloth and highly fragrant incense.

The great sage Maitreya told Vidura: When the King entered his city, it was very beautifully decorated to receive him with pearls, flower garlands, beautiful cloth and golden gates, and the entire city was perfumed with highly fragrant incense. (Vedabase)

Text 2

The pathway for his chariot, the parks and the lanes were sprinkled with water scented with sandalwood and aguru [a fragrant herb] and were decorated with flowers, fruits in their peel, precious stones, soaked grains and lamps.

Fragrant water distilled from sandalwood and aguru herb was sprinkled everywhere on the lanes, roads and small parks throughout the city, and everywhere were decorations of unbroken fruits, flowers, wetted grains, varied minerals, and lamps, all presented as auspicious paraphernalia. (Vedabase)

Text 3

Everything cleansed, with young lifestock, elephants for the procession and young plants and mango leaves, garlands of flowers and fruits hanging down from pillars of banana trees, it all looked very nice.

At the street crossings there were bunches of fruits and flowers, as well as pillars of banana trees and betel nut branches. All these combined decorations everywhere looked very attractive. (Vedabase)

Text 4

The citizens and many a beautiful radiating virgin with tinkling earrings, came to meet him equipped with lamps and countless articles of worship for a welcome.

As the King entered the gate of the city, all the citizens received him with many auspicious articles like lamps, flowers and yogurt. The King was also received by many beautiful unmarried girls whose bodies were bedecked with various ornaments, especially with earrings which collided with one another. (Vedabase)

Text 5

Though the king entering the palace was honored with the sounds of kettledrums, conchshells and vedic chanting by the priests, took he no pride in it.

When the King entered the palace, conchshells and kettledrums were sounded, priests chanted vedic mantras, and professional reciters offered different prayers. But in spite of all this ceremony to welcome him, the King was not the least bit affected. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Against the backdrop of the great show of reverence everywhere and that way pleased by the nobles and the commoners, wished he on his turn them all the best.

Both the important citizens and the common citizens welcomed the King very heartily, and he also bestowed upon them their desired blessings. (Vedabase)

Text 7

He had been so from the beginning: magnanimous in all his actions, doing great works regularly; he had become the greatest of the great and so ruling with the achievement of a repute spread the world all over, was he elevated to the Supreme of the lotus feet'."

King Prithu was greater than the greatest soul and was therefore worshipable by everyone. He performed many glorious activities in ruling over the surface of the world and was always magnanimous. After achieving such great success and a reputation which spread throughout the universe, he at last obtained the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Vedabase)

Text 8

Sûta said: "O greatest of the devotees, leader of the sages [S'aunaka], after Maitreya had so befittingly expounded on the high reputation of that ideal king qualified by his countless qualities, addressed Vidura him, proving his great respect.

Sûta Gosvâmî continued: O S'aunaka, leader of the great sages, after hearing Maitreya speak about the various activities of King Prithu, the original king, who was fully qualified, glorified and widely praised all over the world, Vidura, the great devotee, very submissively worshiped Maitreya Rishi and asked him the following question. (Vedabase)

Text 9

Vidura said: 'When he, Prithu, was enthroned by the great ones of learning, realized he the support of the enlightened community and could he expand by the grace of Vishnu to the strength of rule by which he managed to exploit the entire earth.

Vidura said: My dear brâhmana Maitreya, it is very enlightening to understand that King Prithu was enthroned by the great sages and brâhmanas. All the demigods presented him with innumerable gifts, and he also expanded his influence upon personally receiving strength from Lord Vishnu. Thus he greatly developed the earth. (Vedabase)

Text 10

Who wouldn't enjoy to hear about the glories of him, about his intelligence and his chivalry to the example of which so many kings and their local rulers proceeded in procuring what they desired for their livelihood; please speak [again] to me about those good deeds.'

Prithu Mahârâja was so great in his activities and magnanimous in his method of ruling that all the kings and demigods on the various planets still follow in his footsteps. Who is there who will not try to hear about his glorious activities? I wish to hear more and more about Prithu Mahârâja because his activities are so pious and auspicious. (Vedabase)

Text 11

Maitreya proceeded: 'Living in the land between the two rivers the Ganges and the Yamunâ, it appeared that his enjoying the fortune of his pious deeds was destined to go at the cost of them.

The great saintly sage Maitreya told Vidura: My dear Vidura, King Prithu lived in the tract of land between the two great rivers Ganges and Yamunâ. Because he was very opulent, it appeared that he was enjoying his destined fortune in order to diminish the results of his past pious activities. (Vedabase)

Text 12

For everyone in the seven continents, except for the brahmins of culture and the lineage of the ones devoted to the Infallible One, there was his irrevocable order as the one ruler holding the scepter.

Mahârâja Prithu was an unrivaled king and possessed the scepter for ruling all the seven islands on the surface of the globe. No one could disobey his irrevocable orders but the saintly persons, the brâhmanas and the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead [the Vaishnavas]. (Vedabase)

Text 13

So, once upon a time, taking a vow, he started a great sacrifice and in that function there was a great assembly of the authorities of the divine, the brahmin sages, the wise kings and greatest of devotees.

Once upon a time King Prithu initiated the performance of a very great sacrifice in which great saintly sages, brâhmanas, demigods from higher planetary systems and great saintly kings known as râjarshis all assembled together. (Vedabase)

Text 14

In that great meeting he offered his obeisances to all those who respectable deserved it according their respective positions, standing in their midst like the moon does between the stars.

In that great assembly, Mahârâja Prithu first of all worshiped all the respectable visitors according to their respective positions. After this, he stood up in the midst of the assembly, and it appeared that the full moon had arisen amongst the stars. (Vedabase)

Text 15

He was a tall man, well built with strong arms and a lotus-like fair complexion, eyes as bright as a sunrise, a straight nose and a beautiful face with a grave expression, high shoulders and teeth brilliant at the smile,

King Prithu's body was tall and sturdy, and his complexion was fair. His arms were full and broad and his eyes as bright as the rising sun. His nose was straight, his face very beautiful and his personality grave. His teeth were set beautifully in his smiling face. (Vedabase)

Text 16

a broad chest, a firm waist with beautiful folds of skin in his abdomen like the leaf of a banana tree, a coiled navel, thighs of a golden hue and an arched instep.

The chest of Mahârâja Prithu was very broad, his waist was very thick, and his abdomen, wrinkled by lines of skin, resembled in construction a leaf of a banyan tree. His navel was coiled and deep, his thighs were of a golden hue, and his instep was arched.

Text 17

He had fine, curly, slick black hair on his head, a neck like a conch and he was dressed in a very valuable dhotî with over his upper body a wrapper worn like a sacred thread.

The black, slick hair on his head was very fine and curly, and his neck, like a conchshell, was decorated with auspicious lines. He wore a very valuable dhotî, and there was a nice wrapper on the upper part of his body. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

With all the beauty of his physique was he the one appointed to give up his garments according the regulations; put on a black deerskin, with a ring of kus'agrass around his finger, he then performed as was required.

As Mahârâja Prithu was being initiated to perform the sacrifice, he had to leave aside his valuable dress, and therefore his natural bodily beauty was visible. It was very pleasing to see him put on a black deerskin and wear a ring of kus'a grass on his finger, for this increased the natural beauty of his body. It appears that Mahârâja Prithu observed all the regulative principles before he performed the sacrifice. (Vedabase)