Maharaja Prithu's Journey Home

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.23.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच दृष्ट्वात्मानं प्रवयसमेकदा वैन्य आत्मवान् । आत्मना वर्धिताशेषस्वानुसर्गः प्रजापतिः ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca dṛṣṭvātmānaṁ pravayasam ekadā vainya ātmavān ātmanā vardhitāśeṣa- svānusargaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Maitreya said: One day, the self-possessed son of Vena, lord of his people, seeing himself grown advanced in years — and having, through his own effort, already raised up his entire line of successors —

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.23.2)

जगतस्तस्थुषश्चापि वृत्तिदो धर्मभृत्सताम् । निष्पादितेश्वरादेशो यदर्थमिह जज्ञिवान् ॥ २ ॥

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

— he who was the giver of livelihood to all beings, moving and unmoving, the upholder of dharma for the virtuous, and who had now accomplished the very purpose for which, by the Lord's command, he had taken birth in this world —

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.23.3)

आत्मजेष्वात्मजां न्यस्य विरहाद्रुदतीमिव । प्रजासु विमनःस्वेकः सदारोऽगात्तपोवनम् ॥ ३ ॥

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

— entrusting his own daughter, the earth, who seemed to weep with the pain of parting, to his sons, and leaving his subjects grief-stricken, he went forth alone, together with his wife, into the forest of austerities.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.23.4)

तत्राप्यदाभ्यनियमो वैखानससुसम्मते । आरब्ध उग्रतपसि यथा स्वविजये पुरा ॥ ४ ॥

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

There too, unwavering in his observance, well versed in the discipline approved for forest hermits, he undertook severe austerity with the same resolve he had once shown in the conquest of his kingdom.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.23.5)

कन्दमूलफलाहारः शुष्कपर्णाशनः क्वचित् । अब्भक्षः कतिचित्पक्षान् वायुभक्षस्ततः परम् ॥ ५ ॥

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

He lived on bulbs, roots, and fruits; at times he ate only dried leaves; for several fortnights he sustained himself on water alone, and after that, on air alone.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.23.6)

ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतपा वीरो वर्षास्वासारषाण्मुनिः । आकण्ठमग्नः शिशिरे उदके स्थण्डिलेशयः ॥ ६ ॥

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

That hero practiced the five fires in the summer, stood in the downpour of the rains like a sage enduring the monsoon, remained immersed up to his neck in water through the winter, and slept upon the bare earth.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.23.7)

तितिक्षुर्यतवाग्दान्त ऊर्ध्वरेता जितानिलः । आरिराधयिषुः कृष्णमचरत्तप उत्तमम् ॥ ७ ॥

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

Forbearing, his speech held in check, his senses subdued, celibate, his breath mastered, and longing to please Krishna, he practiced the highest austerity.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.23.8)

तेन क्रमानुसिद्धेन ध्वस्तकर्ममलाशयः । प्राणायामैः सन्निरुद्धषड्वर्गश्छिन्नबन्धनः ॥ ८ ॥

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

Through that austerity, thus gradually perfected, the impurity of fruitive desire clinging to his mind was destroyed; through the practice of breath-control the six inner enemies were held fully in check, and every bond of his was severed.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.23.9)

सनत्कुमारो भगवान् यदाहाध्यात्मिकं परम् । योगं तेनैव पुरुषमभजत्पुरुषर्षभः ॥ ९ ॥

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

That best of men worshiped the Supreme Person through that very supreme spiritual discipline which the illustrious Sanat-kumara had taught him.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.23.10)

भगवद्धर्मिणः साधोः श्रद्धया यततः सदा । भक्तिर्भगवति ब्रह्मण्यनन्यविषयाभवत् ॥ १० ॥

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

In that virtuous man, devoted to the Lord's own dharma and ever striving with faith, devotion to the illustrious Brahman grew fixed on Him alone, undivided by any other object.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.23.11)

तस्यानया भगवतः परिकर्मशुद्ध सत्त्वात्मनस्तदनुसंस्मरणानुपूर्त्या । ज्ञानं विरक्तिमदभून्निशितेन येन चिच्छेद संशयपदं निजजीवकोशम् ॥ ११ ॥

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

Through this constant service to the Lord, his very being purified, and through the unbroken continuity of remembering Him, there arose in him knowledge joined with detachment — a knowledge sharp enough to cut through the doubt-laden sheath of his own individual self.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.23.12)

छिन्नान्यधीरधिगतात्मगतिर्निरीह- स्तत्तत्यजेऽच्छिनदिदं वयुनेन येन । तावन्न योगगतिभिर्यतिरप्रमत्तो यावद्गदाग्रजकथासु रतिं न कुर्यात् ॥ १२ ॥

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

His mind severed from every other thought, having attained the true path of the self, free of all striving, he set aside even that very knowledge once it had done its cutting. For even a diligent ascetic gains nothing lasting through the paths of yoga alone, until he develops delight in the accounts of Krishna, elder brother of Gada.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.23.13)

एवं स वीरप्रवरः संयोज्यात्मानमात्मनि । ब्रह्मभूतो दृढं काले तत्याज स्वं कलेवरम् ॥ १३ ॥

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

Thus that foremost of heroes, uniting his own self with the Supreme Self, having become one with Brahman, firmly, and at the proper time, gave up his own body.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.23.14)

सम्पीड्य पायुं पार्ष्णिभ्यां वायुमुत्सारयञ्छनैः । नाभ्यां कोष्ठेष्ववस्थाप्य हृदुरःकण्ठशीर्षणि ॥ १४ ॥

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

Pressing his anus shut with his heels, and gradually driving his life-breath upward, he established it, in turn, at the navel, then at the heart, the chest, the throat, and finally the crown of the head.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.23.15)

उत्सर्पयंस्तु तं मूर्ध्नि क्रमेणावेश्य निःस्पृहः । वायुं वायौ क्षितौ कायं तेजस्तेजस्ययूयुजत् ॥ १५ ॥

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

Having raised it, by degrees, up to the very crown of the skull, and now utterly free of desire, he merged his own life-breath into the cosmic air, his body into the earth, and his own fire into fire.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.23.16)

खान्याकाशे द्रवं तोये यथास्थानं विभागशः । क्षितिमम्भसि तत्तेजस्यदो वायौ नभस्यमुम् ॥ १६ ॥

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

The hollows of his body he merged, each in its proper place, into space; the fluid element into water; earth in turn into water, that into fire, that into air, and that, finally, into the sky.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.23.17)

इन्द्रियेषु मनस्तानि तन्मात्रेषु यथोद्भवम् । भूतादिनामून्युत्कृष्य महत्यात्मनि सन्दधे ॥ १७ ॥

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

He merged the mind into the senses, and those, according to their origin, into their subtle sense-objects; then, drawing these forth from the ego-principle, he placed them within the great cosmic intelligence.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.23.18)

तं सर्वगुणविन्यासं जीवे मायामये न्यधात् । तं चानुशयमात्मस्थमसावनुशयी पुमान् । ज्ञानवैराग्यवीर्येण स्वरूपस्थोऽजहात्प्रभुः ॥ १८ ॥

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

That entire array of the material qualities he then placed within the individual soul dwelling in illusion; and that residual impression, resting within the self, he — though himself, as that self, still bound by such an impression — cast off, through the strength of knowledge and detachment, and, established now in his own true nature, he, as its master, let it go.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.23.19)

अर्चिर्नाम महाराज्ञी तत्पत्न्यनुगता वनम् । सुकुमार्यतदर्हा च यत्पद्भ्यां स्पर्शनं भुवः ॥ १९ ॥

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

The great queen named Archi, his wife, had followed him into the forest — so delicate was she, so unsuited to such a life, that even the touch of her own feet upon the bare earth seemed unfitting for her.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.23.20)

अतीव भर्तुर्व्रतधर्मनिष्ठया शुश्रूषया चार्षदेहयात्रया । नाविन्दतार्तिं परिकर्शितापि सा प्रेयस्करस्पर्शनमाननिर्वृतिः ॥ २० ॥

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

Through her utter devotion to her husband's vows and duties, through her service to him, and through subsisting on the sparse fare of sages, she, though wasted away by it all, felt no distress whatsoever — for her contentment lay simply in the joy of his loving touch and regard.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.23.21)

देहं विपन्नाखिलचेतनादिकं पत्युः पृथिव्या दयितस्य चात्मनः । आलक्ष्य किञ्चिच्च विलप्य सा सती चितामथारोपयदद्रिसानुनि ॥ २१ ॥

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

Beholding the body of her husband, dear to the earth as he was dear to her own self, now bereft of every sign of consciousness, that chaste woman lamented for a little while, and then placed it upon a pyre on the mountain ridge.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.23.22)

विधाय कृत्यं ह्रदिनीजलाप्लुता दत्त्वोदकं भर्तुरुदारकर्मणः । नत्वा दिविस्थांस्त्रिदशांस्त्रिः परीत्य विवेश वह्निं ध्यायती भर्तृपादौ ॥ २२ ॥

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

Having performed the necessary rites, bathed in the waters of the river, and offered water in tribute to her husband of noble deeds, she bowed to the gods dwelling in heaven, circled the fire three times, and, meditating on her husband's feet, entered into its flames.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.23.23)

विलोक्यानुगतां साध्वीं पृथुं वीरवरं पतिम् । तुष्टुवुर्वरदा देवैर्देवपत्न्यः सहस्रशः ॥ २३ ॥

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

Seeing that virtuous woman following her husband Prithu, foremost of heroes, thousands of the wives of the gods, together with the boon-granting gods themselves, praised her.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.23.24)

कुर्वत्यः कुसुमासारं तस्मिन्मन्दरसानुनि । नदत्स्वमरतूर्येषु गृणन्ति स्म परस्परम् ॥ २४ ॥

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

Showering flowers down upon that peak of Mount Mandara, as the instruments of the gods rang out, they spoke to one another in these words.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.23.25)

देव्य ऊचुः अहो इयं वधूर्धन्या या चैवं भूभुजां पतिम् । सर्वात्मना पतिं भेजे यज्ञेशं श्रीर्वधूरिव ॥ २५ ॥

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

The goddesses said: Ah, blessed indeed is this bride, who has served this lord of kings, her husband, with her whole being — just as the goddess Shri, as bride, serves the Lord of sacrifice Himself.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.23.26)

सैषा नूनं व्रजत्यूर्ध्वमनु वैन्यं पतिं सती । पश्यतास्मानतीत्यार्चिर्दुर्विभाव्येन कर्मणा ॥ २६ ॥

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

See — this chaste Archi is surely ascending now, following her husband, the son of Vena; through deeds beyond our own comprehension, she has passed even beyond us.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.23.27)

तेषां दुरापं किं त्वन्यन्मर्त्यानां भगवत्पदम् । भुवि लोलायुषो ये वै नैष्कर्म्यं साधयन्त्युत ॥ २७ ॥

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

What indeed is unattainable, for those mortals of fleeting life upon the earth, who attain the state of freedom from the bondage of action, and who have already reached the abode of the Lord?

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.23.28)

स वञ्चितो बतात्मध्रुक् कृच्छ्रेण महता भुवि । लब्ध्वापवर्ग्यं मानुष्यं विषयेषु विषज्जते ॥ २८ ॥

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

Truly cheated, and an enemy to his own self, is that person who, having obtained with such great difficulty a human birth upon this earth, capable of granting liberation, remains attached instead to the objects of the senses.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.23.29)

मैत्रेय उवाच स्तुवतीष्वमरस्त्रीषु पतिलोकं गता वधूः । यं वा आत्मविदां धुर्यो वैन्यः प्रापाच्युताश्रयः ॥ २९ ॥

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

Maitreya said: While the wives of the gods were thus singing her praises, that bride reached the very world of her husband — the world attained by the son of Vena, foremost among the knowers of the self, whose sole refuge had been the infallible Lord.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.23.30)

इत्थम्भूतानुभावोऽसौ पृथुः स भगवत्तमः । कीर्तितं तस्य चरितमुद्दामचरितस्य ते ॥ ३० ॥

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

Such, in his greatness, was that most exalted of devotees, Prithu. I have now recounted to you the story of that man of such boundless character.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.4.23.31)

य इदं सुमहत्पुण्यं श्रद्धयावहितः पठेत् । श्रावयेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स पृथोः पदवीमियात् ॥ ३१ ॥

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

Whoever reads this most auspicious account attentively and with faith, or has it read aloud, or simply hears it, attains that same path Prithu himself attained.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.4.23.32)

ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी राजन्यो जगतीपतिः । वैश्यः पठन् विट्पतिः स्याच्छूद्रः सत्तमतामियात् ॥ ३२ ॥

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

A brahmana who reads it gains the radiance of Vedic learning; a kshatriya becomes lord of the earth; a vaishya, by reading it, becomes lord of the merchant class; and a shudra attains the very state of the most excellent.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.4.23.33)

त्रिः कृत्व इदमाकर्ण्य नरो नार्यथवादृता । अप्रजः सुप्रजतमो निर्धनो धनवत्तमः ॥ ३३ ॥

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

A man, or equally a respectful woman, who hears this three times over — if childless, becomes blessed with the finest of children; if poor, becomes wealthiest of all.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.4.23.34)

अस्पष्टकीर्तिः सुयशा मूर्खो भवति पण्डितः । इदं स्वस्त्ययनं पुंसाममङ्गल्यनिवारणम् ॥ ३४ ॥

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

One whose reputation is obscure gains widespread fame, and even a fool becomes learned; this account is a path to well-being for all people, and it wards off every misfortune.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.4.23.35)

धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं स्वर्ग्यं कलिमलापहम् । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां सम्यक्सिद्धिमभीप्सुभिः । श्रद्धयैतदनुश्राव्यं चतुर्णां कारणं परम् ॥ ३५ ॥

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

It brings prosperity, fame, long life, and the attainment of heaven, and it removes the impurity of the Kali age. Those who desire the complete fulfillment of dharma, artha, kama, and moksha should have this told to them with faith, for it is the supreme cause of all four.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.4.23.36)

विजयाभिमुखो राजा श्रुत्वैतदभियाति यान् । बलिं तस्मै हरन्त्यग्रे राजानः पृथवे यथा ॥ ३६ ॥

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

A king setting out to conquer, who hears this and then marches forth, will find other kings bringing tribute to him beforehand, just as they once did to Prithu.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.4.23.37)

मुक्तान्यसङ्गो भगवत्यमलां भक्तिमुद्वहन् । वैन्यस्य चरितं पुण्यं शृणुयाच्छ्रावयेत्पठेत् ॥ ३७ ॥

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

One who is free of all other attachment, bearing pure devotion toward the Lord, should hear, cause others to hear, and read this sacred account of Vena's son.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.4.23.38)

वैचित्रवीर्याभिहितं महन्माहात्म्यसूचकम् । अस्मिन् कृतमतिमर्त्यं पार्थवीं गतिमाप्नुयात् ॥ ३८ ॥

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

O son of Vichitravirya, this account, spoken by me as a token of his great glory — a mortal who fixes his mind upon it attains that very same destination reached by Prithu.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.4.23.39)

अनुदिनमिदमादरेण शृण्वन् पृथुचरितं प्रथयन् विमुक्तसङ्गः । भगवति भवसिन्धुपोतपादे स च निपुणां लभते रतिं मनुष्यः ॥ ३९ ॥

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

A person who, day after day, hears this account of Prithu's deeds with reverence, spreads it among others, and remains free of worldly attachment, attains perfect and unwavering devotion to the Lord, whose feet are the very boat for crossing the ocean of worldly existence.