FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.29

स विष्णुरातोऽतिथय आगताय तस्मै सपर्यां शिरसाजहार । ततो निवृत्ता ह्यबुधा: स्त्रियोऽर्भका महासने सोपविवेश पूजित: ॥ २९ ॥
sa viṣṇu-rāto ’tithaya āgatāya
[sa vishnu-raato ’tithaya aagataaya]
tasmai saparyāṁ śirasājahāra
[tasmai saparyaam shirasaajahaara]
tato nivṛttā hy abudhāḥ striyo ’rbhakā
[tato nivrittaa hy abudhaah striyo ’rbhakaa]
mahāsane sopaviveśa pūjitaḥ
[mahaasane sopavivesha poojitah]
saḥ — he viṣṇu-rātaḥ — Mahārāja Parīkṣit (who is always protected by Lord Viṣṇu) atithaye — to become a guest āgatāya — one who arrived there tasmai — unto him saparyām — with the whole body śirasā — with bowed head ājahāra — offered obeisances tataḥ — thereafter nivṛttāḥ — ceased hi — certainly abudhāḥ — less intelligent striyaḥ — women arbhakāḥ — boys mahā-āsane — exalted seat sa — he upaviveśa — sat down pūjitaḥ — being respected.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa viṣṇu-rāto ’tithaya āgatāya
saḥ
he
viṣṇu-rātaḥ
Mahārāja Parīkṣit (who is always protected by Lord Viṣṇu)
atithaye
to become a guest
āgatāya
one who arrived there
tasmai saparyāṁ śirasājahāra
tasmai
unto him
saparyām
with the whole body
śirasā
with bowed head
ājahāra
offered obeisances
tato nivṛttā hy abudhāḥ striyo ’rbhakā
tataḥ
thereafter
nivṛttāḥ
ceased
hi
certainly
abudhāḥ
less intelligent
striyaḥ
women
arbhakāḥ
boys
mahāsane sopaviveśa pūjitaḥ
mahā-āsane
exalted seat
sa
he
upaviveśa
sat down
pūjitaḥ
being respected.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who is also known as Viṣṇurāta [one who is always protected by Viṣṇu], bowed his head to receive the chief guest, Śukadeva Gosvāmī. At that time all the ignorant women and boys ceased following Śrīla Śukadeva. Receiving respect from all, Śukadeva Gosvāmī took his exalted seat.

On Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s arrival at the meeting, everyone, except Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Nārada and a few others, stood up, and Mahārāja Parīkṣit, who was glad to receive a great devotee of the Lord, bowed down before him with all the limbs of his body. Śukadeva Gosvāmī also exchanged the greetings and reception by embrace, shaking of hands, nodding and bowing down, especially before his father and Nārada Muni. Thus he was offered the presidential seat at the meeting. When he was so received by the king and sages, the street boys and less intelligent women who followed him were struck with wonder and fear. So they retired from their frivolous activities, and everything was full of gravity and calm.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When his guest arrived, Parīkṣit worshipped him with bowed head. The ignorant women and children disappeared. In the worship, Śukadeva sat on a huge seat.
Commentary

Parīkṣit (viṣṇurātaḥ) worshipped him while bowing with his head. The women and children then disappeared. Śukadeva sat on a huge throne which was offered as part of the worship. The sandhi in sopaviveśa is poetic license.

Parīkṣit bowed his head to receive Śukadeva. Ignorant women and boys ceased following him. Receiving respect, Śukadeva was offered a chief seat. Honor recalibrates the room. Naming a guest reorders the company.
Reflection Questions
  • Where could I publicly honor someone in a way that recalibrates the room?
  • What seat could I offer that signals the right hierarchy?
📝 My note

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