> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 4 Part 2

> > **************

> > Chapter Twenty-three: Maharaja Prthu's Going Back Home

> > ********

> > TEXT 1-3

> > maitreya uvâca

> > drstvâtmânam pravayasam

> > ekadâ vainya âtmavân

> > âtmanâ vardhitâsesa-

> > svânusargah prajâpatih

> > jagatas tasthusas câpi

> > vrttido dharma-bhrt satâm

> > nispâditesvarâdeso

> > yad-artham iha jajnivân

> > âtmajesv âtmajâm nyasya

> > virahâd rudatîm iva

> > prajâsu vimanahsv ekah

> > sa-dâro 'gât tapo-vanam

> > maitreyah uvâca--the sage Maitreya continued to speak; drstvâ--after seeing; âtmânam--of the body; pravayasam--old age; ekadâ--once upon a time; vainyah--King Prthu; âtma-vân--fully conversant in spiritual education; âtmanâ--by oneself; vardhita--increased; asesa--unlimitedly; sva-anusargah--creation of material opulences; prajâ-patih--a protector of citizens; jagatah--moving; tasthusah--not moving; ca--also; api--certainly; vrtti-dah--one who gives pensions; dharma-bhrt--one who observes the religious principles; satâm--of the devotees; nispâdita--fully executed; îsvara--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; âdesah--order; yat-artham--in coordination with Him; iha--in this world; jajnivan--performed; âtma jesu--unto his sons; âtma jâm--the earth; nyasya--indicating; virâhat--out of separation; rudatîm iva--just like lamenting; prajâsu--unto the citizens; vimanahsu--unto the aggrieved; ekah--alone; sa-dârah--with his wife; agât--went; tapah-vanam--in the forest where one can execute austerities.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At the last stage of his life, when Maharaja Prthu 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 Maharaja Prthu 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 4

> > tatrâpy adâbhya-niyamo

> > vaikhânasa-susammate

> > ârabdha ugra-tapasi

> > yathâ sva-vijaye purâ

> > tatra--there; api--also; adâbhya--severe; niyamah--austerities; vaikhânasa--rules and regulations of retired life; su-sammate--perfectly recognized; ârabdhah--beginning; ugra--severe; tapasi--austerity; yathâ--as much as; sva-vijaye--in conquering the world; purâ--formerly.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After retiring from family life, Maharaja Prthu 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 5

> > kanda-mûla-phalâharah

> > suska-parnâsanah kvacit

> > ab-bhaksah katicit paksân

> > vâyu-bhaksas tatah param

> > kanda--trunk; mûla--roots; phala--fruits; âhârah--eating; suska--dry; parna--leaves; asanah--eating; kvacit--sometimes; ap-bhaksah--drinking water; katicit--for several; paksân--fortnights; vâyu--the air; bhaksah--breathing; tatah param--thereafter.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ********

> > TEXT 6

> > grîsme panca-tapâ vîro

> > varsâsv âsârasân munih

> > âkantha-magnah sisire

> > udake sthandile-sayah

> > grîsme--in the summer season; panca-tapâh--five kinds of heating; vîrah--the hero; varsâsu--in the rainy season; âsârasât--being situated within the torrents of rain; munih--like the great sages; âkantha--up to the neck; magnah--drowned; sisire--in winter; udake--within water; sthandile-sayah--lying down on the floor.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Following the principles of forest living and the footsteps of the great sages and munis, Prthu Maharaja 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 7

> > titiksur yata-vâg dânta

> > ûrdhva-retâ jitânilah

> > ârirâdhayisuh krsnam

> > acarat tapa uttamam

> > titiksuh--tolerating; yata--controlling; vâk--words; dântah--controlling the senses; ûrdhva-retâh--without discharge of semen; jita-anilah--controlling the life air; ârirâdhayisuh--simply desiring; krsnam--Lord Krsna; acarat--practice; tapah--austerities; uttamam--the best.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maharaja Prthu 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 Krsna. He had no other purpose.

> > ********

> > TEXT 8

> > tena kramânusiddhena

> > dhvasta-karma-malâsayah

> > prânâyâmaih sanniruddha-

> > sad-vargas chinna-bandhanah

> > tena--thus by practicing such austerities; krama--gradually; anu--constantly; siddhena--by perfection; dhvasta--smashed; karma--fruitive activities; mala--dirty things; âsayah--desire; prâna-âyâmaih--by practice of prânâyâma-yoga, breathing exercises; san--being; niruddha--stopped; sat-vargah--the mind and the senses; chinna-bandhanah--completely cut off from all bondage.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By thus practicing severe austerities, Maharaja Prthu 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 9

> > sanat-kumâro bhagavân

> > yad âhâdhyâtmikam param

> > yogam tenaiva purusam

> > abhajat purusarsabhah

> > sanat-kumârah--Sanat-kumâra; bhagavân--most powerful; yat--that which; âha--said; âdhyâtmikam--spiritual advancement of life; param--ultimate; yogam--mysticism; tena--by that; eva--certainly; purusam--the Supreme Person; abhajat--worshiped; purusa-rsabhah--the best of human beings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thus the best amongst human beings, Maharaja Prthu, followed that path of spiritual advancement which was advised by Sanat-kumara. That is to say, he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.

> > ********

> > TEXT 10

> > bhagavad-dharminah sâdhoh

> > sraddhayâ yatatah sadâ

> > bhaktir bhagavati brahmany

> > ananya-visayâbhavat

> > bhagavat-dharminah--one who executes devotional service; sâdhoh--of the devotee; sraddhayâ--with faith; yatatah--endeavoring; sadâ--always; bhaktih--devotion; bhagavati--unto the Personality of Godhead; brahmani--the origin of impersonal Brahman; ananya-visayâ--firmly fixed without deviation; abhavat--became.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Maharaja Prthu 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, Krsna, developed and became unflinching and fixed.

> > ********

> > TEXT 11

> > tasyânayâ bhagavatah parikarma-suddha-

> > sattvâtmanas tad-anusamsmaranânupûrtyâ

> > jnânam viraktimad abhûn nisitena yena

> > ciccheda samsaya-padam nija jîva-kosam

> > tasya--his; anayâ--by this; bhagavatah--of the Supreme personality of Godhead; parikarma--activities in devotional service; suddha--pure, transcendental; sattva--existence; âtmanah--of the mind; tat--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anusamsmarana--constantly remembering; anupûrtyâ--being perfectly done; jnânam--knowledge; virakti--nonattachment; mat--possessing; abhût--became manifested; nisitena--by sharpened activities; yena--by which; ciccheda--become separated; samsaya-padam--position of doubtfulness; nija--own; jîva-kosam--encagement of the living entity.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By regularly discharging devotional service, Prthu Maharaja 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 12

> > chinnânya-dhîr adhigatâtma-gatir nirîhas

> > tat tatyaje 'cchinad idam vayunena yena

> > tâvan na yoga-gatibhir yatir apramatto

> > yâvad gadâgraja-kathâsu ratim na kuryât

> > chinna--being separated; anya-dhîh--all other concepts of life (the bodily concept of life); adhigata--being firmly convinced; âtma-gatih--the ultimate goal of spiritual life; nirîhah--desireless; tat--that; tatyaje--gave up; acchinat--he had cut; idam--this; vayunena--with the knowledge; yena--by which; tâvat--so long; na--never; yoga-gatibhih--the practice of the mystic yoga system; yatih--the practicer; apramattah--without any illusion; yâvat--so long; gadâgraja--of Krsna; kathâsu--words; ratim--attraction; na--never; kuryât--do it.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When he became completely free from the conception of bodily life, Maharaja Prthu realized Lord Krsna sitting in everyone's heart as the Paramatma. Being thus able to get all instructions from Him, he gave up all other practices of yoga and jnana. He was not even interested in the perfection of the yoga and jnana systems, for he thoroughly realized that devotional service to Krsna is the ultimate goal of life and that unless the yogis and jnanis become attracted to krsna-katha [narrations about Krsna], their illusions concerning existence can never be dispelled.

> > ********

> > TEXT 13

> > evam sa vîra-pravarah

> > samyojyâtmânam âtmani

> > brahma-bhûto drdham kâle

> > tatyâja svam kalevaram

> > evam--thus; sah--he; vîra-pravarah--the chief of the heroes; samyojya--applying; âtmânam--mind; âtmani--unto the Supersoul; brahma-bhûtah--being liberated; drdham--firmly; kâle--in due course of time; tatyâja--gave up; svam--own; kalevaram--body.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In due course of time, when Prthu Maharaja was to give up his body, he fixed his mind firmly upon the lotus feet of Krsna, and thus, completely situated on the brahma-bhuta platform, he gave up the material body.

> > ********

> > TEXT 14

> > sampîdya pâyum pârsnibhyâm

> > vâyum utsârayan chanaih

> > nâbhyâm kosthesv avasthâpya

> > hrd-urah-kantha-sîrsani

> > sampîdya--by blocking; pâyum--the door of the anus; pârsnibhyâm--by the calves; vâyum--the air which goes up; utsârayan--pushing upward; sanaih--gradually; nâbhyâm--by the navel; kosthesu--in the heart and in the throat; avasthâpya--fixing; hrt--in the heart; urah--upward; kantha--throat; sîrsani--between the two eyebrows.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Maharaja Prthu practiced a particular yogic sitting posture, he blocked the doors 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 15

> > utsarpayams tu tam mûrdhni

> > kramenâvesya nihsprhah

> > vâyum vâyau ksitau kâyam

> > tejas tejasy ayûyujat

> > utsarpayan--thus placing; tu--but; tam--the air; mûrdhni--on the head; kramena--gradually; âvesya--placing; nihsprhah--being freed from all material desires; vâyum--the air portion of the body; vâyau--in the total air covering the universe; ksitau--in the total covering of earth; kâyam--this material body; tejah--the fire in the body; tejasi--in the total fire of the material covering; ayûyujat--mixed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way, Prthu Maharaja 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 16

> > khâny âkâse dravam toye

> > yathâ-sthânam vibhâgasah

> > ksitim ambhasi tat tejasy

> > ado vâyau nabhasy amum

> > khâni--the different holes in the body for the sense organs; âkâse--in the sky; dravam--the liquid substance; toye--in the water; yathâ-sthânam--according to proper situation; vibhâgasah--as they are divided; ksitim--earth; ambhasi--in the water; tat--that; tejasi--in the fire; adah--the fire; vâyau--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, Prthu Maharaja 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 17

> > indriyesu manas tâni

> > tan-mâtresu yathodbhavam

> > bhûtâdinâmûny utkrsya

> > mahaty âtmani sandadhe

> > indriyesu--in the sense organs; manah--the mind; tâni--the sense organs; tat-mâtresu--in the objects of the senses; yathâ-udbhavam--wherefrom they generated; bhûta-âdinâ--by the five elements; amûni--all those sense objects; utkrsya--taking out; mahati--in the mahat-tattva; âtmani--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 18

> > tam sarva-guna-vinyâsam

> > jîve mâyâmaye nyadhât

> > tam cânusayam âtma-stham

> > asâv anusayî pumân

> > jnâna-vairâgya-vîrye na

> > svarûpa-stho 'jahât prabhuh

> > tam--unto Him; sarva-guna-vinyâsam--the reservoir of all qualities; jîve--unto the designations; mâyâ-maye--the reservoir of all potencies; nyadhât--placed; tam--that; ca--also; anusayam--designation; âtma-stham--situated in self-realization; asau--he; anusayî--the living entity; pumân--the enjoyer; jnâna--knowledge; vairâgya--renunciation; vîryena--by the prowess of; svarûpa-sthah--being situated in one's constitutional position; ajahât--returned home; prabhuh--the controller.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Prthu Maharaja 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 Krsna consciousness, he gave up this body as a prabhu, or controller of the senses.

> > ********

> > TEXT 19

> > arcir nâma mahâ-râjnî

> > tat-patny anugatâ vanam

> > sukumâry atad-arhâ ca

> > yat-padbhyâm sparsanam bhuvah

> > arcih nâma--of the name Arci; mahâ-râjnî--the Queen; tat-patnî--the wife of Mahârâja Prthu; anugatâ--who followed her husband; vanam--in the forest; su-kumârî--very delicate body; a-tat-arhâ--who did not deserve; ca--also; yat-padbhyâm--by the touch of whose feet; sparsanam--touching; bhuvah--on the earth.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Queen, the wife of Prthu Maharaja, 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 20

> > atîva bhartur vrata-dharma-nisthayâ

> > susrûsayâ cârsa-deha-yâtrayâ

> > nâvindatârtim parikarsitâpi sâ

> > preyaskara-sparsana-mâna-nirvrtih

> > atîva--very much; bhartuh--of the husband; vrata-dharma--vow to serve him; nisthayâ--by determination; susrûsayâ--by serving; ca--also; ârsa--like the great saintly sages; deha--body; yâtrayâ--living condition; na--did not; avindata--perceive; ârtim--any difficulty; parikarsitâ api--although transformed to become lean and thin; sâ--she; preyah-kara--very pleasing; sparsana--touching; mâna--engaged; nirvrtih--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 21

> > deham vipannâkhila-cetanâdikam

> > patyuh prthivyâ dayitasya câtmanah

> > âlaksya kincic ca vilapya sâ satî

> > citâm athâropayad adri-sânuni

> > deham--body; vipanna--completely failing; akhila--all; cetana--feeling; âdikam--symptoms; patyuh--of her husband; prthivyâh--the world; dayitasya--of the merciful; ca âtmanah--also of herself; âlaksya--by seeing; kincit--very little; ca--and; vilapya--lamenting; sâ--she; satî--the chaste; citâm--unto the fire; atha--now; âropayat--placed; adri--hill; sânuni--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 22

> > vidhâya krtyam hradinî jalâplutâ

> > dattvodakam bhartur udâra-karmanah

> > natvâ divi-sthâms tridasâms trih parîtya

> > vivesa vahnim dhyâyatî bhartr-pâdau

> > vidhâya--executing; krtyam--the regulative function; hradinî--in the water of the river; jala-âplutâ--taking bath completely; dattvâ udakam--offering oblations of water; bhartuh--of her husband; udâra-karmanah--who was so liberal; natvâ--offering obeisances; divi-sthân--situated in the sky; tri-dasân--the thirty million demigods; trih--three times; parîtya--circumambulating; vivesa--entered; vahnim--the fire; dhyâyatî--while thinking of; bhartr--of her husband; pâdau--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 23

> > vilokyânugatâm sâdhvîm

> > prthum vîra-varam patim

> > tustuvur varadâ devair

> > deva-patnyah sahasrasah

> > vilokya--by observing; anugatâm--dying after the husband; sâdhvîm--the chaste woman; prthum--of King Prthu; vîra-varam--the great warrior; patim--husband; tustuvuh--offered prayers; vara-dâh--able to give benediction; devaih--by the demigods; deva-patnyah--the wives of the demigods; sahasrasah--in thousands.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ********

> > TEXT 24

> > kurvatyah kusumâsâram

> > tasmin mandara-sânuni

> > nadatsv amara-tûryesu

> > grnanti sma parasparam

> > kurvatyah--just showering; kusuma-âsâram--showers of flowers; tasmin--in that; mandara--of Mandara Hill; sânuni--on the top; nadatsu--vibrating; amara-tûryesu--beating of the drums of the demigods; grnanti 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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 25

> > devya ûcuh

> > aho iyam vadhûr dhanyâ

> > yâ caivam bhû-bhujâm patim

> > sarvâtmanâ patim bheje

> > yajnesam srîr vadhûr iva

> > devyah ûcuh--the wives of the demigods said; aho--alas; iyam--this; vadhûh--the wife; dhanyâ--most glorious; yâ--who; ca--also; evam--as; bhû--of the world; bhujâm--of all the kings; patim--the king; sarva-âtmanâ--with full understanding; patim--unto the husband; bheje--worshiped; yajna-îsam--unto Lord Visnu; srîh--the goddess of fortune; vadhûh--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 Prthu, 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, Yajnesa, or Visnu.

> > ********

> > TEXT 26

> > saisâ nûnam vrajaty ûrdhvam

> > anu vainyam patim satî

> > pasyatâsmân atîtyârcir

> > durvibhâvyena karmanâ

> > sâ--she; esâ--this; nûnam--certainly; vrajati--going; ûrdhvam--upward; anu--following; vainyam--the son of Vena; patim--husband; satî--chaste; pasyata--just see; asmân--us; atîtya--overpassing; arcih--of the name Arci; durvibhâvyena--by inconceivable; karmanâ--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 27

> > tesâm durâpam kim tv anyan

> > martyânam bhagavat-padam

> > bhuvi lokâyuso ye vai

> > naiskarmyam sâdhayanty uta

> > tesâm--of them; durâpam--difficult to obtain; kim--what; tu--but; anyat--anything else; martyânâm--of the human beings; bhagavat-padam--the kingdom of God; bhuvi--in the world; loka--flickering; âyusah--span of life; ye--those; vai--certainly; naiskarmyam--the path of liberation; sâdhayanti--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 28

> > sa vancito batâtma-dhruk

> > krcchrena mahatâ bhuvi

> > labdhvâpavargyam mânusyam

> > visayesu visajjate

> > sah--he; vancitah--cheated; bata--certainly; âtma-dhruk--envious of himself; krcchrena--with great difficulty; mahatâ--by great activities; bhuvi--in this world; labdhvâ--by achieving; âpavargyam--the path of liberation; mânusyam--in the human form of life; visayesu--in the matter of sense gratification; visajjate--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.

> > ********

> > TEXT 29

> > maitreya uvâca

> > stuvatîsv amara-strîsu

> > pati-lokam gatâ vadhûh

> > yam vâ âtma-vidâm dhuryo

> > vainyah prâpâcyutâsrayah

> > maitreyah uvâca--the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; stuvatîsu--while glorifying; amara-strîsu--by the wives of the denizens of heaven; pati-lokam--the planet where the husband had gone; gatâ--reaching; vadhûh--the wife; yam--where; vâ--or; âtma-vidâm--of the self-realized souls; dhuryah--the topmost; vainyah--the son of King Vena (Prthu Mahârâja); prâpa--obtained; acyuta-âsrayah--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, Maharaja Prthu, the topmost self-realized soul, had attained.

> > ********

> > TEXT 30

> > ittham-bhûtânubhâvo 'sau

> > prthuh sa bhagavattamah

> > kîrtitam tasya caritam

> > uddâma-caritasya te

> > ittham-bhûta--thus; anubhâvah--very great, powerful; asau--that; prthuh--King Prthu; sah--he; bhagavat-tamah--the best among the lords; kîrtitam--described; tasya--his; caritam--character; uddâma--very great; caritasya--one who possesses such qualities; te--to you.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ********

> > TEXT 31

> > ya idam sumahat punyam

> > sraddhayâvahitah pathet

> > srâvayec chrnuyâd vâpi

> > sa prthoh padavîm iyât

> > yah--anyone; idam--this; su-mahat--very great; punyam--pious; sraddhayâ--with great faith; avahitah--with great attention; pathet--reads; srâvayet--explains; srnuyât--hears; vâ--or; api--certainly; sah--that person; prthoh--of King Prthu; padavîm--situation; iyât--attains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Any person who describes the great characteristics of King Prthu 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 Maharaja Prthu attained. In other words, such a person also returns home to the Vaikuntha planets, back to Godhead.

> > ********

> > TEXT 32

> > brâhmano brahma-varcasvî

> > râjanyo jagatî-patih

> > vaisyah pathan vit-patih syâc

> > chûdrah sattamatâm iyât

> > brâhmanah--the brâhmanas; brahma-varcasvî--one who has attained the power of spiritual success; râjanyah--the royal order; jagatî-patih--the king of the world; vaisyah--the mercantile class of men; pathan--by reading; vit-patih--becomes master of animals; syât--becomes; sûdrah--the laborer class of men; sattama-tâm--the position of a great devotee; iyât--attains.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If one hears of the characteristics of Prthu Maharaja and is a brahmana, he becomes perfectly qualified with brahminical powers; if he is a ksatriya, he becomes a king of the world; if he is a vaisya, he becomes a master of other vaisyas and many animals; and if he is a sudra, he becomes the topmost devotee.

> > ********

> > TEXT 33

> > trih krtva idam âkarnya

> > naro nâry athavâdrtâ

> > aprajah suprajatamo

> > nirdhano dhanavattamah

> > trih--thrice; krtvah--repeating; idam--this; âkarnya--hearing; narah--man; nârî--woman; athavâ--or; âdrtâ--in great respect; aprajah--one who has no children; su-praja-tamah--surrounded by many children; nirdhanah--without any money; dhana-vat--rich; tamah--the greatest.

> > TRANSLATION

> > It does not matter whether one is a man or woman. Anyone who, with great respect, hears this narration of Maharaja Prthu will become the father of many children if he is without children and will become the richest of men if he is without money.

> > ********

> > TEXT 34

> > aspasta-kîrtih suyasâ

> > mûrkho bhavati panditah

> > idam svasty-ayanam pumsâm

> > amangalya-nivâranam

> > aspasta-kîrtih--unmanifested reputation; su-yasâh--very famous; mûrkhah--illiterate; bhavati--becomes; panditah--learned; idam--this; svasti-ayanam--auspiciousness; pumsâm--of the men; amangalya--inauspiciousness; nivâranam--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 Prthu Maharaja is so auspicious that it drives away all bad luck.

> > ********

> > TEXT 35

> > dhanyam yasasyam âyusyam

> > svargyam kali-malâpaham

> > dharmârtha-kâma-moksânâm

> > samyak siddhim abhîpsubhih

> > sraddhayaitad anusrâvyam

> > caturnâm kâranam param

> > dhanyam--the source of riches; yasasyam--the source of reputation; âyusyam--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; kâma--sense gratification; moksânâm--of liberation; samyak--completely; siddhim--perfection; abhîpsubhih--by those desiring; sraddhayâ--with great respect; etat--this narration; anusrâvyam--must one hear; caturnâm--of the four; kâranam--cause; param--ultimate.

> > TRANSLATION

> > By hearing the narration of Prthu Maharaja, 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 Prthu Maharaja.

> > ********

> > TEXT 36

> > vijayâbhimukho râja

> > srutvaitad abhiyâti yân

> > balim tasmai haranty agre

> > râjânah prthave yathâ

> > vijaya-abhimukhah--one who is about to start for victory; râjâ--king; srutvâ--hearing; etat--this; abhiyâti--starts; yân--on the chariot; balim--taxes; tasmai--unto him; haranti--present; agre--before; râjânah--other kings; prthave--unto King Prthu; yathâ--as it was done.

> > TRANSLATION

> > If a king, who is desirous of attaining victory and ruling power, chants the narration of Prthu Maharaja 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 Maharaja Prthu--simply upon his order.

> > ********

> > TEXT 37

> > muktânya-sango bhagavaty

> > amalâm bhaktim udvahan

> > vainyasya caritam punyam

> > srnuyâc chrâvayet pathet

> > mukta-anya-sangah--being freed from all material contamination; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; amalâm--unalloyed; bhaktim--devotional service; udvahan--carrying out; vainyasya--of the son of Mahârâja Vena; caritam--character; punyam--pious; srnuyât--must hear; srâvayet--must induce others to hear; pathet--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 Krsna consciousness, but even he, while discharging devotional service, must hear, read and induce others to hear about the character and life of Prthu Maharaja.

> > ********

> > TEXT 38

> > vaicitravîryâbhihitam

> > mahan-mâhâtmya-sûcakam

> > asmin krtam atimartyam

> > pârthavîm gatim âpnuyât

> > vaicitravîrya--O son of Vicitravîrya (Vidura); abhihitam--explained; mahat--great; mâhâtmya--greatness; sûcakam--awakening; asmin--in this; krtam--performed; ati-martyam--uncommon; pârthavîm--in connection with Prthu Mahârâja; gatim--advancement, destination; âpnuyât--one should achieve.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ********

> > TEXT 39

> > anudinam idam âdarena srnvan

> > prthu-caritam prathayan vimukta-sangah

> > bhagavati bhava-sindhu-pota-pâde

> > sa ca nipunâm labhate ratim manusyah

> > anu-dinam--day after day; idam--this; âdarena--with great respect; srnvan--hearing; prthu-caritam--the narration of Prthu Mahârâja; prathayan--chanting; vimukta--liberated; sangah--association; bhagavati--unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhava-sindhu--the ocean of nescience; pota--the boat; pâde--whose lotus feet; sah--he; ca--also; nipunâm--complete; labhate--achieves; ratim--attachment; manusyah--the person.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Whoever, with great reverence and adoration, regularly reads, chants and describes the history of Maharaja Prthu'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.

> > Back to the running text