FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.48

मैत्रेय उवाच त आत्मयोगपतय आदिराजेन पूजिता: । शीलं तदीयं शंसन्त: खेऽभवन्मिषतां नृणाम् ॥ ४८ ॥
maitreya uvāca
[maitreya uvaacha]
ta ātma-yoga-pataya
[ta aatma-yoga-pataya]
ādi-rājena pūjitāḥ
[aadi-raajena poojitaah]
śīlaṁ tadīyaṁ śaṁsantaḥ
[sheelam tadeeyam shamsantah]
khe ’bhavan miṣatāṁ nṛṇām
[khe ’bhavan mishataam nrinaam]
maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya continued to speak te — they ātma-yoga-patayaḥ — the masters of self-realization by devotional service ādi-rājena — by the original king (Pṛthu) pūjitāḥ — being worshiped śīlam — character tadīyam — of the King śaṁsantaḥ — eulogizing khe — in the sky abhavan — appeared miṣatām — while observing nṛṇām — of the people.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
maitreya uvāca
maitreyaḥ uvāca
the great sage Maitreya continued to speak
te
they
ta ātma-yoga-pataya
ātma-yoga-patayaḥ
the masters of self-realization by devotional service
ādi-rājena pūjitāḥ
ādi-rājena
by the original king (Pṛthu)
pūjitāḥ
being worshiped
śīlaṁ tadīyaṁ śaṁsantaḥ
śīlam
character
tadīyam
of the King
śaṁsantaḥ
eulogizing
khe ’bhavan miṣatāṁ nṛṇām
khe
in the sky
abhavan
appeared
miṣatām
while observing
nṛṇām
of the people.
The great sage Maitreya continued: Being thus worshiped by Mahārāja Pṛthu, the four Kumāras, who were masters of devotional service, became very pleased. Indeed, they appeared in the sky and praised the character of the King, and everyone observed them.

It is said that the demigods never touch the surface of the earth. They walk and travel in space only. Like the great sage Nārada, the Kumāras do not require any machine to travel in space. There are also residents of Siddhaloka who can travel in space without machines. Since they can go from one planet to another, they are called siddhas — that is to say, they have acquired all mystic and yogic powers. Such great saintly persons who have attained complete perfection in mystic yoga are not visible in this age on earth because humanity is not worthy of their presence. The Kumāras, however, praised the characteristics of Mahārāja Pṛthu and his great devotional attitude and humility. The Kumāras were greatly satisfied by King Pṛthu’s method of worship. It was by the grace of Mahārāja Pṛthu that the common citizens in his domain could see the Kumāras flying in outer space.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Maitreya said: The masters of ātma-yoga, after being worshipped by Pṛthu, and praising his character, went to Satyaloka through the sky while the people watched. Khe abhavan means “they went to Satyaloka by the way of the sky.”
The pleased Kumāras rose into the sky and praised the king's character before everyone. Sometimes the best praise is given in the open after the meeting; public commendation completes the encounter.
Reflection Questions
  • Which encounter of mine would benefit from open follow-up praise?
  • Where do I withhold public commendation that would seal someone's character?
📝 My note

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