FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.19.10

इति चाधोक्षजेशस्य पृथोस्तु परमोदयम् । असूयन् भगवानिन्द्र: प्रतिघातमचीकरत् ॥ १० ॥
iti cādhokṣajeśasya
[iti chaadhokshajeshasya]
pṛthos tu paramodayam
[prithos tu paramodayam]
asūyan bhagavān indraḥ
[asooyan bhagavaan indrah]
pratighātam acīkarat
[pratighaatam acheekarat]
iti — thus ca — also adhokṣaja-īśasya — who accepted Adhokṣaja as his worshipable Lord pṛthoḥ — of King Pṛthu tu — then parama — the topmost udayam — opulence asūyan — being envious of bhagavān — the most powerful indraḥ — the King of heaven pratighātam — impediments acīkarat — made.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
iti cādhokṣajeśasya
iti
thus
ca
also
adhokṣaja-īśasya
who accepted Adhokṣaja as his worshipable Lord
pṛthos tu paramodayam
pṛthoḥ
of King Pṛthu
tu
then
parama
the topmost
udayam
opulence
asūyan bhagavān indraḥ
asūyan
being envious of
bhagavān
the most powerful
indraḥ
the King of heaven
pratighātam acīkarat
pratighātam
impediments
acīkarat
made.
King Pṛthu was dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Adhokṣaja. Because King Pṛthu performed so many sacrifices, he was superhumanly enhanced by the mercy of the Supreme Lord. King Pṛthu’s opulence, however, could not be tolerated by the King of heaven, Indra, who tried to impede the progress of his opulence.

In this verse there are three significant purposes expressed in the words adhokṣaja, bhagavān indraḥ and pṛthoḥ. Mahārāja Pṛthu is an incarnation of Viṣṇu, yet he is a great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. Although an empowered incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, he is nonetheless a living entity. As such, he must be a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although one is empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is an incarnation, he should not forget his eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Kali-yuga there are many self-made incarnations, rascals, who declare themselves to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The words bhagavān indraḥ indicate that a living entity can even be as exalted and powerful as King Indra, for even King Indra is an ordinary living entity in the material world and possesses the four defects of the conditioned soul. King Indra is described herein as bhagavān, which is generally used in reference to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this case, however, King Indra is addressed as bhagavān because he has so much power in his hands. Despite his becoming bhagavān, he is envious of the incarnation of God, Pṛthu Mahārāja. The defects of material life are so strong that due to contamination King Indra becomes envious of an incarnation of God.

We should try to understand, therefore, how a conditioned soul becomes fallen. The opulence of King Pṛthu was not dependent on material conditions. As described in this verse, he was a great devotee of Adhokṣaja. The word adhokṣaja indicates the Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the expression of mind and words. However, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears before the devotee in His original form of eternal bliss and knowledge. The devotee is allowed to see the Supreme Lord face to face, although the Lord is beyond the expression of our senses and beyond our direct perception.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Envious of the high prosperity of Pṛthu, who was the Supreme Lord, Indra obstructed the sacrifice. Instead of prṭhos tu the words pṛthos tad is sometimes seen.
Pṛthu depended on the Lord (Adhokṣaja) and became super-empowered by His mercy; this opulence Indra could not tolerate. Dependence on the Lord produces an effect that envy cannot match.
Reflection Questions
  • Where would full dependence on the Lord generate something my own striving hasn't?
  • Whose intolerance toward me may be evidence that something is actually working?
📝 My note

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