FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.20.17

मैत्रेय उवाच स इत्थं लोकगुरुणा विष्वक्सेनेन विश्वजित् । अनुशासित आदेशं शिरसा जगृहे हरे: ॥ १७ ॥
maitreya uvāca
[maitreya uvaacha]
sa itthaṁ loka-guruṇā
[sa ittham loka-gurunaa]
viṣvaksenena viśva-jit
[vishvaksenena vishva-jit]
anuśāsita ādeśaṁ
[anushaasita aadesham]
śirasā jagṛhe hareḥ
[shirasaa jagrihe hareh]
Word-for-word
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said saḥ — he ittham — thus loka-guruṇā — by the supreme master of all people viṣvaksenena — by the Personality of Godhead viśva-jit — the conqueror of the world (Mahārāja Pṛthu) anuśāsitaḥ — being ordered ādeśam — instructions śirasā — on the head jagṛhe — accepted hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
maitreya uvāca
maitreyaḥ uvāca
Maitreya said
sa itthaṁ loka-guruṇā
saḥ
he
ittham
thus
loka-guruṇā
by the supreme master of all people
viṣvaksenena viśva-jit
viṣvaksenena
by the Personality of Godhead
viśva-jit
the conqueror of the world (Mahārāja Pṛthu)
anuśāsita ādeśaṁ
anuśāsitaḥ
being ordered
ādeśam
instructions
śirasā jagṛhe hareḥ
śirasā
on the head
jagṛhe
accepted
hareḥ
of the Personality of Godhead.
The great saint Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, in this way Mahārāja Pṛthu, the conqueror of the entire world, accepted the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead on his head.
Purport

One should accept the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by bowing down at the lotus feet of the Lord. This means that anything spoken by the Personality of Godhead should be taken as it is, with great care and attention and with great respect. It is not our business to amend the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or make additions or alterations, as it has become a custom for many so-called scholars and svāmīs who comment on the words of Bhagavad-gītā. Here the practical example of how to accept the instruction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is shown by Pṛthu Mahārāja. This is the way to receive knowledge through the paramparā system.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Maitreya said: When so instructed by the guru of the universe, the Supreme Lord, Pṛthu accepted the instructions on his head.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Pṛthu accepts the Lord's instructions on his head — literally and figuratively bowing. The form of acceptance matters; the head-position of agreement is itself part of the obedience.
Reflection Questions
  • When was the last time I accepted instruction by bowing my head, not just acknowledging mentally?
  • Where would a more bodily acceptance of guidance change how it actually changes me?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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