FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.39

मथुरायां तथा वज्रं शूरसेनपतिं तत: । प्राजापत्यां निरूप्येष्टिमग्नीनपिबदीश्वर: ॥ ३९ ॥
mathurāyāṁ tathā vajraṁ
[mathuraayaam tathaa vajram]
śūrasena-patiṁ tataḥ
[shoorasena-patim tatah]
prājāpatyāṁ nirūpyeṣṭim
[praajaapatyaam niroopyeshtim]
agnīn apibad īśvaraḥ
[agneen apibad eeshvarah]
mathurāyām — at Mathurā tathā — also vajram — Vajra śūrasena-patim — King of the Śūrasenas tataḥ — thereafter prājāpatyām — Prājāpatya sacrifice nirūpya — having performed iṣṭim — goal agnīn — fire apibat — placed in himself īśvaraḥ — capable.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mathurāyāṁ tathā vajraṁ
mathurāyām
at Mathurā
tathā
also
vajram
Vajra
śūrasena-patiṁ tataḥ
śūrasena-patim
King of the Śūrasenas
tataḥ
thereafter
prājāpatyāṁ nirūpyeṣṭim
prājāpatyām
Prājāpatya sacrifice
nirūpya
having performed
agnīn apibad īśvaraḥ
iṣṭim
goal
agnīn
fire
apibat
placed in himself
īśvaraḥ
capable.
Then he posted Vajra, the son of Aniruddha [grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa], at Mathurā as the King of Śūrasena. Afterwards Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira performed a Prājāpatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life.

Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, after placing Mahārāja Parīkṣit on the imperial throne of Hastināpura, and after posting Vajra, the great-grandson of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as the King of Mathurā, accepted the renounced order of life. The system of four orders of life and four castes in terms of quality and work, known as varṇāśrama-dharma, is the beginning of real human life, and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, as the protector of this system of human activities, timely retired from active life as a sannyāsī, handing over the charge of the administration to a trained prince, Mahārāja Parīkṣit. The scientific system of varṇāśrama-dharma divides the human life into four divisions of occupation and four orders of life. The four orders of life as brahmacārya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa are to be followed by all, irrespective of the occupational division. Modern politicians do not wish to retire from active life, even if they are old enough, but Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, as an ideal king, voluntarily retired from active administrative life to prepare himself for the next life. Everyone’s life must be so arranged that the last stage of life, say at least the last fifteen to twenty years prior to death, can be absolutely devoted to the devotional service of the Lord to attain the highest perfection of life. It is really foolishness to engage oneself all the days of one’s life in material enjoyment and fruitive activities, because as long as the mind remains absorbed in fruitive work for material enjoyment, there is no chance of getting out from conditioned life, or material bondage. No one should follow the suicidal policy of neglecting one’s supreme task of attaining the highest perfection of life, namely going back home, back to Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
He enthroned Vajra as the king of Śūrasena in Mathurā and then being capable, performing pṛajāpatya sacrifice, placed within himself the fires.
Commentary

Vajra was the son of Aniruddha. Nirūpya means “performing.” Apibat means “he fixed within himself.” Īśvaraḥ means “capable.”

He posted Vajra, grandson of Kṛṣṇa, at Mathurā as King of Śūrasena. Performed a Prājāpatya sacrifice and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life. The fire of renunciation is internal.
Reflection Questions
  • What internal 'fire' of renunciation am I being asked to kindle?
  • Where is the next chapter of my life waiting for an internal ceremony?
📝 My note

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