The Homecoming of King Priyavrata

Verse 1 (bhagavata.5.1.1)

राजोवाच प्रियव्रतो भागवत आत्मारामः कथं मुने । गृहेऽरमत यन्मूलः कर्मबन्धः पराभवः ॥ १ ॥

rājovāca priyavrato bhāgavata ātmārāmaḥ kathaṁ mune gṛhe ’ramata yan-mūlaḥ karma-bandhaḥ parābhavaḥ

The king said: O sage, Priyavrata was a great devotee of Bhagavan and one who delighted in the self alone — why then did he remain absorbed in household life, which is the very root of the bondage of karma and of one's downfall?

Verse 2 (bhagavata.5.1.2)

न नूनं मुक्तसङ्गानां तादृशानां द्विजर्षभ । गृहेष्वभिनिवेशोऽयं पुंसां भवितुमर्हति ॥ २ ॥

na nūnaṁ mukta-saṅgānāṁ tādṛśānāṁ dvijarṣabha gṛheṣv abhiniveśo ’yaṁ puṁsāṁ bhavitum arhati

O best of the twice-born, it does not seem fitting that men free of all attachment, such as he was, should be so absorbed in household life.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.5.1.3)

महतां खलु विप्रर्षे उत्तमश्लोकपादयोः । छायानिर्वृतचित्तानां न कुटुम्बे स्पृहामतिः ॥ ३ ॥

mahatāṁ khalu viprarṣe uttamaśloka-pādayoḥ chāyā-nirvṛta-cittānāṁ na kuṭumbe spṛhā-matiḥ

O sage among brahmanas, the minds of great souls, once cooled and satisfied in the shade of the Lord's glorious feet, never long for family life.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.5.1.4)

संशयोऽयं महान् ब्रह्मन् दारागारसुतादिषु । सक्तस्य यत्सिद्धिरभूत्कृष्णे च मतिरच्युता ॥ ४ ॥

saṁśayo ’yaṁ mahān brahman dārāgāra-sutādiṣu saktasya yat siddhir abhūt kṛṣṇe ca matir acyutā

O brahmana, this is my great doubt: how could a man attached to wife, home and children still attain the perfection of unwavering devotion to Krishna?

Verse 5 (bhagavata.5.1.5)

श्रीशुक उवाच बाढमुक्तं भगवत उत्तमश्लोकस्य श्रीमच्चरणारविन्दमकरन्दरस आवेशितचेतसो भागवतपरमहंस दयितकथां किञ्चिदन्तरायविहतां स्वां शिवतमां पदवीं न प्रायेण हिन्वन्ति ॥ ५ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca bāḍham uktaṁ bhagavata uttamaślokasya śrīmac-caraṇāravinda-makaranda-rasa āveśita-cetaso bhāgavata-paramahaṁsa-dayita-kathāṁ kiñcid antarāya-vihatāṁ svāṁ śivatamāṁ padavīṁ na prāyeṇa hinvanti.

Shri Shukadeva said: What you say is well spoken. Those whose hearts are absorbed in the honeyed nectar of the Lord's lotus feet, and who delight in the stories dear to the great paramahamsa devotees, may occasionally be checked for a time by some obstacle, but as a rule they do not abandon that most auspicious path of theirs.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.5.1.6)

यर्हि वाव ह राजन् स राजपुत्रः प्रियव्रतः परमभागवतो नारदस्य चरणोपसेवयाञ्जसावगतपरमार्थसतत्त्वो ब्रह्मसत्रेण दीक्षिष्यमाणः अवनितलपरिपालनायाम्नातप्रवरगुणगणैकान्तभाजनतया स्वपित्रोपामन्त्रितो भगवति वासुदेव एवाव्यवधानसमाधियोगेन समावेशित-सकलकारकक्रियाकलापो नैवाभ्यनन्दद्यद्यपि तदप्रत्याम्नातव्यं तदधिकरण आत्मनोऽन्यस्माद सतोऽपि पराभवमन्वीक्षमाणः ॥ ६ ॥

yarhi vāva ha rājan sa rāja-putraḥ priyavrataḥ parama-bhāgavato nāradasya caraṇopasevayāñjasāvagata-paramārtha-satattvo brahma-satreṇa dīkṣiṣyamāṇo ’vani-tala-paripālanāyāmnāta-pravara-guṇa-gaṇaikānta-bhājanatayā sva-pitropāmantrito bhagavati vāsudeva evāvyavadhāna-samādhi-yogena samāveśita-sakala-kāraka-kriyā-kalāpo naivābhyanandad yadyapi tad apratyāmnātavyaṁ tad-adhikaraṇa ātmano ’nyasmād asato ’pi parābhavam anvīkṣamāṇaḥ.

At that time, O King, Prince Priyavrata — a supreme devotee who had directly realized the highest truth through service at Narada's feet, and who was on the verge of taking initiation into a vow of renunciation — was summoned by his father as the one uniquely fit to bear the excellent qualities the scriptures require for governing the earth. But Priyavrata, whose every sense and action was absorbed without break in meditation on Bhagavan Vasudeva, could not welcome the proposal, even though it was an order not to be refused, for he regarded any engagement apart from the Self as a kind of defeat, even where none was truly involved.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.5.1.7)

अथ ह भगवानादिदेव एतस्य गुणविसर्गस्य परिबृंहणानुध्यानव्यवसित सकलजगदभिप्राय आत्मयोनिरखिलनिगमनिजगणपरिवेष्टितः स्वभवनादवततार ॥ ७ ॥

atha ha bhagavān ādi-deva etasya guṇa-visargasya paribṛṁhaṇānudhyāna-vyavasita-sakala-jagad-abhiprāya ātma-yonir akhila-nigama-nija-gaṇa-pariveṣṭitaḥ sva-bhavanād avatatāra.

Then Bhagavan the primeval god, Brahma the self-born — whose whole purpose is bent upon nurturing this creation of the modes and upon the welfare of the entire world — descended from his own abode, surrounded by his own retinue, the Vedas in their personified form.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.5.1.8)

स तत्र तत्र गगनतल उडुपतिरिव विमानावलिभिरनुपथममरपरिवृढैरभिपूज्यमानः पथि पथि च वरूथशः सिद्धगन्धर्वसाध्यचारणमुनिगणैरुपगीयमानो गन्धमादनद्रोणीमवभासयन्नुपससर्प ॥ ८ ॥

sa tatra tatra gagana-tala uḍu-patir iva vimānāvalibhir anupatham amara-parivṛḍhair abhipūjyamānaḥ pathi pathi ca varūthaśaḥ siddha-gandharva-sādhya-cāraṇa-muni-gaṇair upagīyamāno gandha-mādana-droṇīm avabhāsayann upasasarpa.

There, all along the way, he shone through the sky like the very lord of the stars, honored at every stage by ranks of great demigods in their rows of celestial cars, and praised at every step by hosts of Siddhas, Gandharvas, Sadhyas, Charanas and sages, as he approached, lighting up the valley of Gandhamadana with his radiance.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.5.1.9)

तत्र ह वा एनं देवर्षिर्हंसयानेन पितरं भगवन्तं हिरण्यगर्भमुपलभमानः सहसैवोत्थायार्हणेन सह पितापुत्राभ्यामवहिताञ्जलिरुपतस्थे ॥ ९ ॥

tatra ha vā enaṁ devarṣir haṁsa-yānena pitaraṁ bhagavantaṁ hiraṇya-garbham upalabhamānaḥ sahasaivotthāyārhaṇena saha pitā-putrābhyām avahitāñjalir upatasthe.

There the divine sage Narada, seeing his father Bhagavan Hiranyagarbha arriving upon his swan-carrier, rose at once, and together with the father and son, Manu and Priyavrata, took up offerings and stood before him with joined, reverent hands.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.5.1.10)

भगवानपि भारत तदुपनीतार्हणः सूक्तवाकेनातितरामुदितगुणगणावतारसुजयः प्रियव्रतमादि पुरुषस्तं सदयहासावलोक इति होवाच ॥ १० ॥

bhagavān api bhārata tad-upanītārhaṇaḥ sūkta-vākenātitarām udita-guṇa-gaṇāvatāra-sujayaḥ priyavratam ādi-puruṣas taṁ sadaya-hāsāvaloka iti hovāca.

O descendant of Bharata, accepting their offering and thus greatly honored by their eloquent words of praise, Brahma, that first-born being, looked upon Priyavrata with a compassionate, smiling glance and spoke as follows.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.5.1.11)

श्रीभगवानुवाच निबोध तातेदमृतं ब्रवीमि मासूयितुं देवमर्हस्यप्रमेयम् । वयं भवस्ते तत एष महर्षि- र्वहाम सर्वे विवशा यस्य दिष्टम् ॥ ११ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca nibodha tātedam ṛtaṁ bravīmi māsūyituṁ devam arhasy aprameyam vayaṁ bhavas te tata eṣa maharṣir vahāma sarve vivaśā yasya diṣṭam

Shri Bhagavan said: My child, hear this truth I now speak — you ought not resent the immeasurable Lord. All of us, Lord Shiva, your own father, and this great sage Narada too, helplessly carry out that same decree of His.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.5.1.12)

न तस्य कश्चित्तपसा विद्यया वा न योगवीर्येण मनीषया वा । नैवार्थधर्मैः परतः स्वतो वा कृतं विहन्तुं तनुभृद्विभूयात् ॥ १२ ॥

na tasya kaścit tapasā vidyayā vā na yoga-vīryeṇa manīṣayā vā naivārtha-dharmaiḥ parataḥ svato vā kṛtaṁ vihantuṁ tanu-bhṛd vibhūyāt

No embodied being — whether by austerity, learning, the power of yoga, intellect, wealth, or righteousness, whether acting alone or with another's help — can ever set aside what He has ordained.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.5.1.13)

भवाय नाशाय च कर्म कर्तुं शोकाय मोहाय सदा भयाय । सुखाय दुःखाय च देहयोग- मव्यक्तदिष्टं जनताङ्ग धत्ते ॥ १३ ॥

bhavāya nāśāya ca karma kartuṁ śokāya mohāya sadā bhayāya sukhāya duḥkhāya ca deha-yogam avyakta-diṣṭaṁ janatāṅga dhatte

Dear child, every being takes up a body — for birth and for death, to act, to grieve, to be deluded, to live in constant fear, and to know pleasure and pain — all according to that unseen decree of the Lord.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.5.1.14)

यद्वाचि तन्त्यां गुणकर्मदामभिः सुदुस्तरैर्वत्स वयं सुयोजिताः । सर्वे वहामो बलिमीश्वराय प्रोता नसीव द्विपदे चतुष्पदः ॥ १४ ॥

yad-vāci tantyāṁ guṇa-karma-dāmabhiḥ sudustarair vatsa vayaṁ suyojitāḥ sarve vahāmo balim īśvarāya protā nasīva dvi-pade catuṣ-padaḥ

My child, all of us are bound fast, as though by an inescapable rope, to the cord of Vedic word woven from our own qualities and works — and just as four-footed animals led by a nose-rope go wherever the two-footed driver directs, so do we all carry our appointed burden of duty as an offering to the Lord.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.5.1.15)

ईशाभिसृष्टं ह्यवरुन्ध्महेऽङ्ग दुःखं सुखं वा गुणकर्मसङ्गात् । आस्थाय तत्तद्यदयुङ्क्त नाथ- श्चक्षुष्मतान्धा इव नीयमानाः ॥ १५ ॥

īśābhisṛṣṭaṁ hy avarundhmahe ’ṅga duḥkhaṁ sukhaṁ vā guṇa-karma-saṅgāt āsthāya tat tad yad ayuṅkta nāthaś cakṣuṣmatāndhā iva nīyamānāḥ

Dear child, whatever pleasure or pain comes to us through our engagement with the modes and their works is that which the Lord Himself has ordained; we simply remain fixed in whatever task our Master sets us to, led along just as a blind man is led by one who can see.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.5.1.16)

मुक्तोऽपि तावद्बिभृयात्स्वदेह- मारब्धमश्नन्नभिमानशून्यः । यथानुभूतं प्रतियातनिद्रः किं त्वन्यदेहाय गुणान्न वृङ्क्ते ॥ १६ ॥

mukto ’pi tāvad bibhṛyāt sva-deham ārabdham aśnann abhimāna-śūnyaḥ yathānubhūtaṁ pratiyāta-nidraḥ kiṁ tv anya-dehāya guṇān na vṛṅkte

Even a liberated soul continues, for a while, to bear the body allotted by his past actions, enjoying its experiences free of false identification, the way a man who has woken recalls what happened in his dream — yet he never again reaches for the modes of nature in order to gain another body.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.5.1.17)

भयं प्रमत्तस्य वनेष्वपि स्याद् यतः स आस्ते सहषट्सपत्नः । जितेन्द्रियस्यात्मरतेर्बुधस्य गृहाश्रमः किं नु करोत्यवद्यम् ॥ १७ ॥

bhayaṁ pramattasya vaneṣv api syād yataḥ sa āste saha-ṣaṭ-sapatnaḥ jitendriyasyātma-rater budhasya gṛhāśramaḥ kiṁ nu karoty avadyam

For the careless man there is danger even in the forest, since he still lives there with his same six co-dwelling foes — the mind and the five senses; but for one who is self-controlled, delighting in the self, and wise, what fault can household life possibly inflict?

Verse 18 (bhagavata.5.1.18)

यः षट् सपत्नान् विजिगीषमाणो गृहेषु निर्विश्य यतेत पूर्वम् । अत्येति दुर्गाश्रित ऊर्जितारीन् क्षीणेषु कामं विचरेद्विपश्चित् ॥ १८ ॥

yaḥ ṣaṭ sapatnān vijigīṣamāṇo gṛheṣu nirviśya yateta pūrvam atyeti durgāśrita ūrjitārīn kṣīṇeṣu kāmaṁ vicared vipaścit

One who wishes to conquer these six foes should first make the effort while still established in household life, as a man sheltered in a fortress overcomes powerful enemies; and once his desires have grown weak, the wise man may then wander wherever he pleases.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.5.1.19)

त्वं त्वब्जनाभाङ्घ्रिसरोजकोश- दुर्गाश्रितो निर्जितषट्सपत्नः । भुङ्क्ष्वेह भोगान् पुरुषातिदिष्टान् विमुक्तसङ्गः प्रकृतिं भजस्व ॥ १९ ॥

tvaṁ tv abja-nābhāṅghri-saroja-kośa- durgāśrito nirjita-ṣaṭ-sapatnaḥ bhuṅkṣveha bhogān puruṣātidiṣṭān vimukta-saṅgaḥ prakṛtiṁ bhajasva

But you have already taken shelter in the fortress-like inner chamber of the lotus feet of Bhagavan, whose navel is a lotus, and have already conquered these six foes; so enjoy the pleasures that the Supreme Person Himself has ordained for you, and, remaining wholly free of attachment, take up the governance entrusted to you.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.5.1.20)

श्रीशुक उवाच इति समभिहितो महाभागवतो भगवतस्त्रिभुवनगुरोरनुशासनमात्मनो लघुतयावनतशिरोधरो बाढमिति सबहुमानमुवाह ॥ २० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca iti samabhihito mahā-bhāgavato bhagavatas tri-bhuvana-guror anuśāsanam ātmano laghutayāvanata-śirodharo bāḍham iti sabahu-mānam uvāha.

Shri Shukadeva said: Thus addressed, the great devotee Priyavrata, considering himself lesser before Brahma, guru of the three worlds, bowed his head and, with the deepest respect, accepted the command, saying, "So be it."

Verse 21 (bhagavata.5.1.21)

भगवानपि मनुना यथावदुपकल्पितापचितिः प्रियव्रतनारदयोरविषममभिसमीक्षमाणयोरात्मसमवस्थानमवाङ्मनसं क्षयमव्यवहृतं प्रवर्तयन्नगमत् ॥ २१ ॥

bhagavān api manunā yathāvad upakalpitāpacitiḥ priyavrata-nāradayor aviṣamam abhisamīkṣamāṇayor ātmasam avasthānam avāṅ-manasaṁ kṣayam avyavahṛtaṁ pravartayann agamat.

Bhagavan Brahma too, duly honored by Manu and regarded evenly and without any trace of envy by both Priyavrata and Narada, then departed for his own abode — a realm beyond the reach of mind and speech, imperishable, and untouched by worldly dealings.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.5.1.22)

मनुरपि परेणैवं प्रतिसन्धितमनोरथः सुरर्षिवरानुमतेनात्मजमखिलधरामण्डलस्थितिगुप्तय आस्थाप्य स्वयमतिविषमविषयविषजलाशयाशाया उपरराम ॥ २२ ॥

manur api pareṇaivaṁ pratisandhita-manorathaḥ surarṣi-varānumatenātmajam akhila-dharā-maṇḍala-sthiti-guptaya āsthāpya svayam ati-viṣama-viṣaya-viṣa-jalāśayāśāyā upararāma.

Manu too, his own long-cherished wish thus fulfilled through Brahma, and with the divine sage Narada's consent, established his son in the protection and governance of the whole circle of the earth, and himself withdrew from any further longing for that most perilous lake of poisoned water which is sense enjoyment.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.5.1.23)

इति ह वाव स जगतीपतिरीश्वरेच्छयाधिनिवेशितकर्माधिकारोऽखिलजगद्बन्धध्वंसनपरानुभावस्य भगवत आदिपुरुषस्याङ्घ्रियुगलानवरतध्यानानुभावेन परिरन्धितकषायाशयोऽवदातोऽपि मानवर्धनो महतां महीतलमनुशशास ॥ २३ ॥

iti ha vāva sa jagatī-patir īśvarecchayādhiniveśita-karmādhikāro ’khila-jagad-bandha-dhvaṁsana-parānubhāvasya bhagavata ādi-puruṣasyāṅghri-yugalānavarata-dhyānānubhāvena parirandhita-kaṣāyāśayo ’vadāto ’pi māna-vardhano mahatāṁ mahītalam anuśaśāsa.

Thus that lord of the earth, having taken up the burden of rule solely by the will of the Supreme, and with the taint of his heart burned away by the unceasing power of meditating on the twin feet of the Original Person — who alone can shatter the bondage of the whole universe — governed this earth, though he was already purified, simply so as to honor the great souls before him.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.5.1.24)

अथ च दुहितरं प्रजापतेर्विश्वकर्मण उपयेमे बर्हिष्मतीं नाम तस्यामु ह वाव आत्मजानात्मसमानशीलगुणकर्मरूपवीर्योदारान्दश भावयाम्बभूव कन्यां च यवीयसीमूर्जस्वतीं नाम ॥ २४ ॥

atha ca duhitaraṁ prajāpater viśvakarmaṇa upayeme barhiṣmatīṁ nāma tasyām u ha vāva ātmajān ātma-samāna-śīla-guṇa-karma-rūpa-vīryodārān daśa bhāvayām babhūva kanyāṁ ca yavīyasīm ūrjasvatīṁ nāma.

Thereafter he married Barhishmati, daughter of the Prajapati Vishvakarma. By her he begot ten sons equal to himself in character, virtue, deeds, beauty, valor and nobility, and, youngest of all, a daughter named Urjasvati.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.5.1.25)

आग्नीध्रेध्मजिह्वयज्ञबाहुमहावीरहिरण्यरेतोघृतपृष्ठसवनमेधातिथिवीतिहोत्रकवय इति सर्व एवाग्निनामानः ॥ २५ ॥

āgnīdhredhmajihva-yajñabāhu-mahāvīra-hiraṇyareto-ghṛtapṛṣṭha-savana-medhātithi-vītihotra-kavaya iti sarva evāgni-nāmānaḥ.

Their names were Agnidhra, Idhmajihva, Yajnabahu, Mahavira, Hiranyareta, Ghritaprishtha, Savana, Medhatithi, Vitihotra, and Kavi — all of them, in fact, names of the fire-god Agni.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.5.1.26)

एतेषां कविर्महावीरः सवन इति त्रय आसन्नूर्ध्वरेतसस्त आत्मविद्यायामर्भभावादारभ्य कृतपरिचयाः पारमहंस्यमेवाश्रममभजन् ॥ २६ ॥

eteṣāṁ kavir mahāvīraḥ savana iti traya āsann ūrdhva-retasas ta ātma-vidyāyām arbha-bhāvād ārabhya kṛta-paricayāḥ pāramahaṁsyam evāśramam abhajan.

Of these, three — Kavi, Mahavira and Savana — remained celibate from birth, and having grown well versed in self-knowledge from their earliest childhood, took up the paramahamsa order of life alone.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.5.1.27)

तस्मिन्नु ह वा उपशमशीलाः परमर्षयः सकलजीवनिकायावासस्य भगवतो वासुदेवस्य भीतानां शरणभूतस्य श्रीमच्चरणारविन्दाविरतस्मरणाविगलितपरमभक्तियोगानुभावेन परिभावितान्तर्हृदयाधिगते भगवति सर्वेषां भूतानामात्मभूते प्रत्यगात्मन्येवा- त्मनस्तादात्म्यमविशेषेण समीयुः ॥ २७ ॥

tasminn u ha vā upaśama-śīlāḥ paramarṣayaḥ sakala-jīva-nikāyāvāsasya bhagavato vāsudevasya bhītānāṁ śaraṇa-bhūtasya śrīmac-caraṇāravindāvirata-smaraṇāvigalita-parama-bhakti-yogānu-bhāvena paribhāvitāntar-hṛdayādhigate bhagavati sarveṣāṁ bhūtānām ātma-bhūte pratyag-ātmany evātmanas tādātmyam aviśeṣeṇa samīyuḥ.

Those great, tranquil sages, steeping their inner hearts through the power of unbroken devotional absorption born of ceaseless remembrance of the lotus feet of Bhagavan Vasudeva — the abode of every living being and the refuge of the fearful — came to perceive Him directly within their own innermost self as the very Self of all beings, and thus attained, without any distinction, oneness of being with Him.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.5.1.28)

अन्यस्यामपि जायायां त्रयः पुत्रा आसन्नुत्तमस्तामसो रैवत इति मन्वन्तराधिपतयः ॥ २८ ॥

anyasyām api jāyāyāṁ trayaḥ putrā āsann uttamas tāmaso raivata iti manvantarādhipatayaḥ.

By another wife he had three more sons — Uttama, Tamasa and Raivata — who in time became the presiding Manus of their respective manvantaras.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.5.1.29)

एवमुपशमायनेषु स्वतनयेष्वथ जगतीपतिर्जगतीमर्बुदान्येकादश परिवत्सराणामव्याहताखिलपुरुषकारसारसम्भृतदोर्दण्डयुगलापीडितमौर्वीगुणस्तनितविरमितधर्मप्रतिपक्षो बर्हिष्मत्याश्चानुदिनमेधमानप्रमोदप्रसरणयौषिण्यव्रीडाप्रमुषितहासावलोकरुचिरक्ष्वेल्यादिभिः पराभूयमानविवेक इवानवबुध्यमान इव महामना बुभुजे ॥ २९ ॥

evam upaśamāyaneṣu sva-tanayeṣv atha jagatī-patir jagatīm arbudāny ekādaśa parivatsarāṇām avyāhatākhila-puruṣa-kāra-sāra-sambhṛta-dor-daṇḍa-yugalāpīḍita-maurvī-guṇa-stanita-viramita-dharma-pratipakṣo barhiṣmatyāś cānudinam edhamāna-pramoda-prasaraṇa-yauṣiṇya-vrīḍā-pramuṣita-hāsāvaloka-rucira-kṣvely-ādibhiḥ parābhūyamāna-viveka ivānavabudhyamāna iva mahāmanā bubhuje.

Thus, once his tranquil-natured sons had taken up the paramahamsa order, that lord of the earth ruled the world for eleven arbudas of years — the mere roar of his bowstring, drawn taut between his two mighty, unstoppable arms, was enough to silence every enemy of dharma. And yet, day by day, in the ever-growing delight, the shy and charming glances, laughter, and playful ways of Queen Barhishmati, his discernment seemed almost overcome, and that great-souled king went on enjoying those pleasures as though scarcely aware of it.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.5.1.30)

यावदवभासयति सुरगिरिमनुपरिक्रामन् भगवानादित्यो वसुधातलमर्धेनैव प्रतपत्यर्धेनावच्छादयति तदा हि भगवदुपासनोपचितातिपुरुषप्रभावस्तदनभिनन्दन् समजवेन रथेन ज्योतिर्मयेन रजनीमपि दिनं करिष्यामीति सप्तकृत्वस्तरणिमनुपर्यक्रामद् द्वितीय इव पतङ्गः ॥ ३० ॥

yāvad avabhāsayati sura-girim anuparikrāman bhagavān ādityo vasudhā-talam ardhenaiva pratapaty ardhenāvacchādayati tadā hi bhagavad-upāsanopacitāti-puruṣa-prabhāvas tad anabhinandan samajavena rathena jyotirmayena rajanīm api dinaṁ kariṣyāmīti sapta-kṛt vastaraṇim anuparyakrāmad dvitīya iva pataṅgaḥ.

As Bhagavan the sun-god circled Mount Sumeru, lighting only half of the earth's surface at a time and leaving the other half in shadow, Priyavrata, who through worship of the Lord had gained extraordinary power, found this displeasing. Resolving, "I shall turn night itself into day," he circled the sun's own path seven times in a chariot of light moving with the sun's own speed, as though he were a second sun.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.5.1.31)

ये वा उ ह तद्रथचरणनेमिकृतपरिखातास्ते सप्त सिन्धव आसन् यत एव कृताः सप्त भुवो द्वीपाः ॥ ३१ ॥

ye vā u ha tad-ratha-caraṇa-nemi-kṛta-parikhātās te sapta sindhava āsan yata eva kṛtāḥ sapta bhuvo dvīpāḥ.

The trenches carved out by the rims of that chariot's wheels became, in time, the seven oceans, and from them in turn arose the seven islands of the earth.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.5.1.32)

जम्बूप्लक्षशाल्मलिकुशक्रौञ्चशाकपुष्करसंज्ञास्तेषां परिमाणं पूर्वस्मात्पूर्वस्मादुत्तर उत्तरो यथासंख्यं द्विगुणमानेन बहिः समन्तत उपक्लृप्ताः ॥ ३२ ॥

jambū-plakṣa-śālmali-kuśa-krauñca-śāka-puṣkara-saṁjñās teṣāṁ parimāṇaṁ pūrvasmāt pūrvasmād uttara uttaro yathā-saṅkhyaṁ dvi-guṇa-mānena bahiḥ samantata upakḷptāḥ.

Their names are Jambu, Plaksha, Shalmali, Kusha, Krauncha, Shaka and Pushkara. They lie ranged one beyond another, moving outward, each successive island exactly twice the size of the one before it.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.5.1.33)

क्षारोदेक्षुरसोदसुरोदघृतोदक्षीरोददधिमण्डोदशुद्धोदाः सप्त जलधयः सप्त द्वीपपरिखा इवाभ्यन्तरद्वीपसमाना एकैकश्येन यथानुपूर्वं सप्तस्वपि बहिर्द्वीपेषु पृथक्परित उपकल्पितास्तेषु जम्ब्वादिषु बर्हिष्मतीपतिरनुव्रतानात्मजानाग्नीध्रेध्मजिह्वयज्ञबाहुहिरण्यरेतोघृतपृष्ठमेधातिथिवीतिहोत्रसंज्ञान् यथा संख्येनैकैकस्मिन्नेकमेवाधिपतिं विदधे ॥ ३३ ॥

kṣārodekṣu-rasoda-suroda-ghṛtoda-kṣīroda-dadhi-maṇḍoda-śuddhodāḥ sapta jaladhayaḥ sapta dvīpa-parikhā ivābhyantara-dvīpa-samānā ekaikaśyena yathānupūrvaṁ saptasv api bahir dvīpeṣu pṛthak parita upakalpitās teṣu jambv-ādiṣu barhiṣmatī-patir anuvratānātmajān āgnīdhredhmajihva-yajñabāhu-hiraṇyareto-ghṛtapṛṣṭha-medhātithi-vītihotra-saṁjñān yathā-saṅkhyenaikaikasminn ekam evādhi-patiṁ vidadhe.

Salt water, sugarcane juice, wine, clarified butter, milk, curd, and sweet water — these are the seven oceans, each equal in breadth to the island it encircles, like a moat around it, ranged in turn about the seven outer islands. Over Jambu and the rest, Priyavrata, husband of Barhishmati, set his obedient sons — Agnidhra, Idhmajihva, Yajnabahu, Hiranyareta, Ghritaprishtha, Medhatithi and Vitihotra — each as sole ruler of one island in turn.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.5.1.34)

दुहितरं चोर्जस्वतीं नामोशनसे प्रायच्छद्यस्यामासीद् देवयानी नाम काव्यसुता ॥ ३४ ॥

duhitaraṁ corjasvatīṁ nāmośanase prāyacchad yasyām āsīd devayānī nāma kāvya-sutā.

He gave his daughter Urjasvati in marriage to Ushana (Shukracharya), and by her was born a daughter named Devayani, daughter of Kavya.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.5.1.35)

नैवंविधः पुरुषकार उरुक्रमस्यपुंसां तदङ्घ्रिरजसा जितषड्गुणानाम् । चित्रं विदूरविगतः सकृदाददीतयन्नामधेयमधुना स जहाति बन्धम् ॥ ३५ ॥

naivaṁ-vidhaḥ puruṣa-kāra urukramasya puṁsāṁ tad-aṅghri-rajasā jita-ṣaḍ-guṇānām citraṁ vidūra-vigataḥ sakṛd ādadīta yan-nāmadheyam adhunā sa jahāti bandham

Such an act of power is nothing wonderful for men who have conquered the six bodily transformations through the dust of the feet of Bhagavan of the mighty stride — for even one born far outside the fold, uttering His holy name but once, is instantly freed of his bondage.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.5.1.36)

स एवमपरिमितबलपराक्रम एकदा तु देवर्षिचरणानुशयनानुपतितगुणविसर्गसंसर्गेणानिर्वृतमिवात्मानं मन्यमान आत्मनिर्वेद इदमाह ॥ ३६ ॥

sa evam aparimita-bala-parākrama ekadā tu devarṣi-caraṇānuśayanānu-patita-guṇa-visarga-saṁsargeṇānirvṛtam ivātmānaṁ manyamāna ātma-nirveda idam āha.

One day, that king of boundless might and power came to feel that, despite having taken refuge at the divine sage's feet, he had somehow fallen back into contact with this creation of the three modes and remained, as it were, unfulfilled; and filled with disillusionment, he spoke as follows.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.5.1.37)

अहो असाध्वनुष्ठितं यदभिनिवेशितोऽहमिन्द्रियैरविद्यारचितविषमविषयान्धकूपे तदलमलममुष्या वनिताया विनोदमृगं मां धिग्धिगिति गर्हयाञ्चकार ॥ ३७ ॥

aho asādhv anuṣṭhitaṁ yad abhiniveśito ’ham indriyair avidyā-racita-viṣama-viṣayāndha-kūpe tad alam alam amuṣyā vanitāyā vinoda-mṛgaṁ māṁ dhig dhig iti garhayāṁ cakāra.

He fell to censuring himself, saying: Alas, what a wretched course I have followed, to have let my senses drag me into this blind well of sense-objects that ignorance itself has dug! Enough — enough of this! Shame upon me, for having become nothing but a plaything in this woman's hands.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.5.1.38)

परदेवताप्रसादाधिगतात्मप्रत्यवमर्शेनानुप्रवृत्तेभ्यः पुत्रेभ्य इमां यथादायं विभज्य भुक्तभोगां च महिषीं मृतकमिव सह महाविभूतिमपहाय स्वयं निहितनिर्वेदो हृदि गृहीतहरिविहारानुभावो भगवतो नारदस्य पदवीं पुनरेवानुससार ॥ ३८ ॥

para-devatā-prasādādhigatātma-pratyavamarśenānupravṛttebhyaḥ putrebhya imāṁ yathā-dāyaṁ vibhajya bhukta-bhogāṁ ca mahiṣīṁ mṛtakam iva saha mahā-vibhūtim apahāya svayaṁ nihita-nirvedo hṛdi gṛhīta-hari-vihārānubhāvo bhagavato nāradasya padavīṁ punar evānusasāra.

Through the discernment he gained by the grace of the Supreme Godhead, he divided the earth fittingly among his obedient sons, and gave up, as though it were a corpse, both the queen with whom he had known such enjoyment and his own vast opulence. Thus taking renunciation upon himself, carrying in his heart the felt presence of Hari's pastimes, he turned once more toward the path of the sage Narada.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.5.1.39)

तस्य ह वा एते श्लोकाः— प्रियव्रतकृतं कर्म को नु कुर्याद्विनेश्वरम् । यो नेमिनिम्नैरकरोच्छायां घ्नन् सप्त वारिधीन् ॥ ३९ ॥

tasya ha vā ete ślokāḥ — priyavrata-kṛtaṁ karma ko nu kuryād vineśvaram yo nemi-nimnair akaroc chāyāṁ ghnan sapta vāridhīn

About him these verses are recited: "Who but the Lord Himself could accomplish what Priyavrata accomplished — driving out the shadow of night, and gouging out seven oceans with the very rims of his chariot wheels?"

Verse 40 (bhagavata.5.1.40)

भूसंस्थानं कृतं येन सरिद्गिरिवनादिभिः । सीमा च भूतनिर्वृत्यै द्वीपे द्वीपे विभागशः ॥ ४० ॥

bhū-saṁsthānaṁ kṛtaṁ yena sarid-giri-vanādibhiḥ sīmā ca bhūta-nirvṛtyai dvīpe dvīpe vibhāgaśaḥ

"He who shaped the very structure of the earth by means of its rivers, mountains and forests, and who marked out boundaries, island by island, for the peace and well-being of all beings."

Verse 41 (bhagavata.5.1.41)

भौमं दिव्यं मानुषं च महित्वं कर्मयोगजम् । यश्चक्रे निरयौपम्यं पुरुषानुजनप्रियः ॥ ४१ ॥

bhaumaṁ divyaṁ mānuṣaṁ ca mahitvaṁ karma-yogajam yaś cakre nirayaupamyaṁ puruṣānujana-priyaḥ

"He who was so dear to that follower of humankind, the sage Narada, came to regard as no better than hell all the greatness — earthly, celestial and human — that he had won through his deeds and his discipline."