FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.4.11

नमन्ति यत्पादनिकेतमात्मन: शिवायहानीय धनानि शत्रव: । कथं स वीर: श्रियमङ्ग दुस्त्यजां युवैषतोत्स्रष्टुमहो सहासुभि: ॥ ११ ॥
namanti yat-pāda-niketam ātmanaḥ
[namanti yat-paada-niketam aatmanah]
śivāya hānīya dhanāni śatravaḥ
[shivaaya haaneeya dhanaani shatravah]
kathaṁ sa vīraḥ śriyam aṅga dustyajāṁ
[katham sa veerah shriyam anga dustyajaam]
yuvaiṣatotsraṣṭum aho sahāsubhiḥ
[yuvaishatotsrashtum aho sahaasubhih]
Word-for-word
namanti — bow down yat-pāda — whose feet niketam — under ātmanaḥ — own śivāya — welfare hānīya — used to bring about dhanāni — wealth śatravaḥ — enemies katham — for what reason saḥ — he vīraḥ — the chivalrous śriyam — opulences aṅga — O Sūta Gosvāmī dustyajām — insuperable yuvā — in full youth aiṣata — desired utsraṣṭum — to give up aho — exclamation saha — with asubhiḥ — life.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
namanti yat-pāda-niketam ātmanaḥ
namanti
bow down
yat-pāda
whose feet
niketam
under
ātmanaḥ
own
śivāya hānīya dhanāni śatravaḥ
śivāya
welfare
hānīya
used to bring about
dhanāni
wealth
śatravaḥ
enemies
kathaṁ sa vīraḥ śriyam aṅga dustyajāṁ
katham
for what reason
saḥ
he
vīraḥ
the chivalrous
śriyam
opulences
aṅga
O Sūta Gosvāmī
dustyajām
insuperable
yuvaiṣatotsraṣṭum aho sahāsubhiḥ
yuvā
in full youth
aiṣata
desired
utsraṣṭum
to give up
aho
exclamation
saha
with
asubhiḥ
life.
He was such a great emperor that all his enemies would come and bow down at his feet and surrender all their wealth for their own benefit. He was full of youth and strength, and he possessed kingly opulences that were difficult to give up. Why did he want to give up everything, including his life?
Purport

There was nothing undesirable in his life. He was quite a young man and could enjoy life with power and opulence. So there was no question of retiring from active life. There was no difficulty in collecting the state taxes because he was so powerful and chivalrous that even his enemies would come to him and bow down at his feet and surrender all wealth for their own benefit. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a pious king. He conquered his enemies, and therefore the kingdom was full of prosperity. There was enough milk, grains and metals, and all the rivers and mountains were full of potency. So materially everything was satisfactory. Therefore, there was no question of untimely giving up his kingdom and life. The sages were eager to hear about all this.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Why did this brave young man, to whose feet enemies brought wealth and clearly bowed down for their own benefit, desire to give up such wealth, which is difficult to give up, along with his life airs?
Commentary

Pāda-niketam means “foot-stool.” Ha means “clearly.” Parīkṣit was young, not old but desired (aiṣata) to give up all the wealth, along with even his life airs (asubhiḥ).

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Parīkṣit was young, strong, victorious — externally there was no reason to leave. His example shatters the idea that renunciation is only for the broken. Sometimes the most prepared time to let go is at the peak.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I think renunciation belongs only after life has battered me?
  • What might it look like to let go of something while still strong enough to give it well?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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