FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.1.39

तस्य ह वा एते श्लोका:— प्रियव्रतकृतं कर्म को नु कुर्याद्विनेश्वरम् । यो नेमिनिम्नैरकरोच्छायां घ्नन् सप्त वारिधीन् ॥ ३९ ॥
tasya ha vā ete ślokāḥ —
[tasya ha vaa ete shlokaah —]
priyavrata-kṛtaṁ karma
[priyavrata-kritam karma]
ko nu kuryād vineśvaram
[ko nu kuryaad vineshvaram]
yo nemi-nimnair akaroc
[yo nemi-nimnair akaroch]
chāyāṁ ghnan sapta vāridhīn
[chaayaam ghnan sapta vaaridheen]
tasya — his ha vā — certainly ete — all these ślokāḥ — verses priyavrata — by King Priyavrata kṛtam — done karma — activities kaḥ — who nu — then kuryāt — can execute vinā — without īśvaram — the Supreme Personality of Godhead yaḥ — one who nemi — of the rim of the wheels of his chariot nimnaiḥ — by the depressions akarot — made chāyām — darkness ghnan — dissipating sapta — seven vāridhīn — oceans.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasya ha vā ete ślokāḥ —
tasya
his
ha vā
certainly
ete
all these
ślokāḥ
verses
priyavrata-kṛtaṁ karma
priyavrata
by King Priyavrata
kṛtam
done
karma
activities
ko nu kuryād vineśvaram
yo nemi-nimnair akaroc
kaḥ
who
nu
then
kuryāt
can execute
vinā
without
īśvaram
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
chāyāṁ ghnan sapta vāridhīn
yaḥ
one who
nemi
of the rim of the wheels of his chariot
nimnaiḥ
by the depressions
akarot
made
chāyām
darkness
ghnan
dissipating
sapta
seven
vāridhīn
oceans.
There are many famous verses regarding Mahārāja Priyavrata’s activities:

“No one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead could do what Mahārāja Priyavrata has done. Mahārāja Priyavrata dissipated the darkness of night, and with the rims of his great chariot, he excavated seven oceans.”

There are many excellent verses, famous all over the world, concerning the activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata. He is so celebrated that his activities are compared to those of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sometimes a sincere servant and devotee of the Lord is also called bhagavān. Śrī Nārada is called bhagavān, and Lord Śiva and Vyāsadeva are also sometimes called bhagavān. This designation, bhagavān, is sometimes conferred upon a pure devotee by the grace of the Lord so that he will be very highly esteemed. Mahārāja Priyavrata was such a devotee.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The following verses praise Priyavrata. Who could perform the actions of Priyavrata except the Supreme Lord himself? By the rim of his chariot wheel he made seven oceans and destroyed the darkness of night. Verses previously composed are quoted. Chāyām means night.
Sincere devotees of the Lord come to be celebrated as nearly divine themselves, not because they grasped at fame but because the Lord honored them with it. Real glory follows real surrender, not the other way around.
Reflection Questions
  • Are you chasing recognition, or letting the Lord decide what recognition, if any, is good for you?
  • Whose example of selfless service deserves more of your attention and gratitude?
📝 My note

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