FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.17

इति स्म राजाध्यवसाययुक्त: प्राचीनमूलेषु कुशेषु धीर: । उदङ्‍मुखो दक्षिणकूल आस्ते समुद्रपत्‍न्‍या: स्वसुतन्यस्तभार: ॥ १७ ॥
iti sma rājādhyavasāya-yuktaḥ
[iti sma raajaadhyavasaaya-yuktah]
prācīna-mūleṣu kuśeṣu dhīraḥ
[praacheena-mooleshu kusheshu dheerah]
udaṅ-mukho dakṣiṇa-kūla āste
[udan-mukho dakshina-koola aaste]
samudra-patnyāḥ sva-suta-nyasta-bhāraḥ
[samudra-patnyaah sva-suta-nyasta-bhaarah]
iti — thus sma — as in the past rājā — the King adhyavasāya — perseverance yuktaḥ — being engaged prācīna — eastern mūleṣu — with the root kuśeṣu — on a seat made of kuśa straw dhīraḥ — self-controlled udaṅ-mukhaḥ — facing the northern side dakṣiṇa — on the southern kūle — bank āste — situated samudra — the sea patnyāḥ — wife of (the Ganges) sva — own suta — son nyasta — given over bhāraḥ — the charge of administration.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
iti sma rājādhyavasāya-yuktaḥ
iti
thus
sma
as in the past
rājā
the King
adhyavasāya
perseverance
yuktaḥ
being engaged
prācīna-mūleṣu kuśeṣu dhīraḥ
prācīna
eastern
mūleṣu
with the root
kuśeṣu
on a seat made of kuśa straw
dhīraḥ
self-controlled
udaṅ-mukho dakṣiṇa-kūla āste
udaṅ-mukhaḥ
facing the northern side
dakṣiṇa
on the southern
kūle
bank
āste
situated
samudra-patnyāḥ sva-suta-nyasta-bhāraḥ
samudra
the sea
patnyāḥ
wife of (the Ganges)
sva
own
suta
son
nyasta
given over
bhāraḥ
the charge of administration.
In perfect self-control, Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat down on a seat of straw, with straw-roots facing the east, placed on the southern bank of the Ganges, and he himself faced the north. Just previously he had given charge of his kingdom over to his son.

The River Ganges is celebrated as the wife of the sea. The seat of kuśa straw is considered to be sanctified if the straw is taken out of the earth complete with root, and if the root is pointed toward the east it is considered to be auspicious. Facing the north is still more favorable for attaining spiritual success. Mahārāja Parīkṣit handed over the charge of administration to his son before leaving home. He was thus fully equipped for all favorable conditions.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Having decided in this way the wise King, entrusting the country to his son, sat down facing north on kuśa grass with tips facing east, on the right bank of the river.
Commentary

Samudra-patnyāḥ means “of the Gaṅgā.”

In perfect self-control, Parīkṣit sat on straw with straw-roots facing east, on the Ganges' southern bank, facing north. He had given the kingdom to his son. Outer arrangement supports inner. Detail of posture is not trivia.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I underestimating how outer arrangement supports inner state?
  • What detail of posture could I refine today?
📝 My note

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