FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.4.10

स सम्राट् कस्य वा हेतो: पाण्डूनां मानवर्धन: । प्रायोपविष्टो गङ्गायामनाद‍ृत्याधिराट्‌श्रियम् ॥ १० ॥
sa samrāṭ kasya vā hetoḥ
[sa samraat kasya vaa hetoh]
pāṇḍūnāṁ māna-vardhanaḥ
[paandoonaam maana-vardhanah]
prāyopaviṣṭo gaṅgāyām
[praayopavishto gangaayaam]
anādṛtyādhirāṭ-śriyam
[anaadrityaadhiraat-shriyam]
saḥ — he samrāṭ — the Emperor kasya — for what vā — or hetoḥ — reason pāṇḍūnām — of the sons of Pāṇḍu māna-vardhanaḥ — one who enriches the family prāya-upaviṣṭaḥ — sitting and fasting gaṅgāyām — on the bank of the Ganges anādṛtya — neglecting adhirāṭ — acquired kingdom śriyam — opulences.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa samrāṭ kasya vā hetoḥ
saḥ
he
samrāṭ
the Emperor
kasya
for what
vā
or
hetoḥ
reason
pāṇḍūnāṁ māna-vardhanaḥ
pāṇḍūnām
of the sons of Pāṇḍu
māna-vardhanaḥ
one who enriches the family
prāyopaviṣṭo gaṅgāyām
prāya-upaviṣṭaḥ
sitting and fasting
gaṅgāyām
on the bank of the Ganges
anādṛtyādhirāṭ-śriyam
anādṛtya
neglecting
adhirāṭ
acquired kingdom
śriyam
opulences.
He was a great emperor and possessed all the opulences of his acquired kingdom. He was so exalted that he was increasing the prestige of the Pāṇḍu dynasty. Why did he give up everything to sit down on the bank of the Ganges and fast until death?

Mahārāja Parīkṣit was the Emperor of the world and all the seas and oceans, and he did not have to take the trouble to acquire such a kingdom by his own effort. He inherited it from his grandfathers Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and brothers. Besides that, he was doing well in the administration and was worthy of the good names of his forefathers. Consequently there was nothing undesirable in his opulence and administration. Then why should he give up all these favorable circumstances and sit down on the bank of the Ganges, fasting till death? This is astonishing, and therefore all were eager to know the cause.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Why did this king, the glory of the Pāṇḍavas, neglect the wealth of kings and fast to death on the bank of the Gaṅgā?
Commentary

Adhirāṭ means “ruling as the chief.” It refers to Yudhiṣṭhira and his brothers. Parīkṣit inherited their wealth, but became disinterested in it.

Why would a successful emperor abandon his throne to fast on a riverbank? The question itself is the point: at some moment, even our hard-won kingdoms can stop being the priority. Maturity recognizes that moment.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'kingdom' have I built that might one day need to be set down?
  • Which sign would tell me it's time — and would I notice?
📝 My note

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