FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.4.18

भगवतर्षभेण परिरक्ष्यमाण एतस्मिन् वर्षे न कश्चन पुरुषो वाञ्छत्यविद्यमानमिवात्मनोऽन्यस्मात्कथञ्चन किमपि कर्हिचिदवेक्षते भर्तर्यनुसवनं विजृम्भितस्‍नेहातिशयमन्तरेण ॥ १८ ॥
bhagavatarṣabheṇa parirakṣyamāṇa etasmin varṣe na kaścana puruṣo vāñchaty avidyamānam ivātmano ’nyasmāt kathañcana kimapi karhicid avekṣate bhartary anusavanaṁ vijṛmbhita-snehātiśayam antareṇa.
[bhagavatarshabhena parirakshyamaana etasmin varshe na kashchana purusho vaanchaty avidyamaanam ivaatmano ’nyasmaat kathanchana kimapi karhichid avekshate bhartary anusavanam vijrimbhita-snehaatishayam antarena.]
Word-for-word
bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead ṛṣabheṇa — King Ṛṣabha parirakṣyamāṇe — being protected etasmin — on this varṣe — planet na — not kaścana — anyone puruṣaḥ — even a common man vāñchati — desires avidyamānam — not existing in reality iva — as if ātmanaḥ — for himself anyasmāt — from anyone else kathañcana — by any means kimapi — anything karhicit — at any time avekṣate — does care to see bhartari — toward the master anusavanam — always vijṛmbhita — expanding sneha-atiśayam — very great affection antareṇa — within one’s self.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhagavatarṣabheṇa parirakṣyamāṇa etasmin varṣe na kaścana puruṣo vāñchaty avidyamānam ivātmano ’nyasmāt kathañcana kimapi karhicid avekṣate bhartary anusavanaṁ vijṛmbhita-snehātiśayam antareṇa.
bhagavatā
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
ṛṣabheṇa
King Ṛṣabha
parirakṣyamāṇe
being protected
etasmin
on this
varṣe
planet
na
not
kaścana
anyone
puruṣaḥ
even a common man
vāñchati
desires
avidyamānam
not existing in reality
iva
as if
ātmanaḥ
for himself
anyasmāt
from anyone else
kathañcana
by any means
kimapi
anything
karhicit
at any time
avekṣate
does care to see
bhartari
toward the master
anusavanam
always
vijṛmbhita
expanding
sneha-atiśayam
very great affection
antareṇa
within one’s self.
No one likes to possess anything that is like a will-o’-the-wisp or a flower in the sky, for everyone knows very well that such things do not exist. When Lord Ṛṣabhadeva ruled this planet of Bhāratavarṣa, even common men did not want to ask for anything, at any time or by any means. No one ever asks for a will-o’-the-wisp. In other words, everyone was completely satisfied, and therefore there was no chance of anyone’s asking for anything. The people were absorbed in great affection for the King. Since this affection was always expanding, they were not inclined to ask for anything.
Purport

In Bengal the word ghoḍā-ḍimba is used, which means “the egg of a horse.” Since a horse never lays an egg, the word ghoḍā-ḍimba actually has no meaning. In Sanskrit there is a word kha-puṣpa, which means “the flower in the sky.” No flower grows in the sky; therefore no one is interested in asking for kha-puṣpa or ghoḍā-ḍimba. During the reign of Mahārāja Ṛṣabhadeva, people were so well equipped that they did not want to ask for anything. They were immensely supplied with all necessities for life due to King Ṛṣabhadeva’s good government. Consequently everyone felt full satisfaction and did not want anything. This is the perfection of government. If the citizens are unhappy due to bad government, the heads of government are condemned. During these democratic days, monarchy is disliked by the people, but here is an example of how an emperor of the whole world kept all the citizens fully satisfied by supplying the necessities of life and following the Vedic principles. Thus everyone was happy during the reign of Mahārāja Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When Ṛṣabhadeva ruled the planet no one ever desired false objects by taking from others. Everyone constantly accepted Ṛṣabhadeva as the greatest object of affection with their whole self. While the planet was protected by Ṛṣabhadeva, no one had any desire for anything non-existent (avidyamānam) like a flower in the sky of himself, by taking from others. Everyone had only great affection with their total selves (antarena) for Ṛṣabhadeva. According to Amara-koṣa the word antara means opportunity, space, period, cloth, disappearance, difference, in reference to, an opening, one’s own, except, outside, occasion, within and the inner soul.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Under truly good leadership, people stop chasing imaginary improvements because real needs are met. Satisfaction, not stimulation, is the mark of a healthy society — and of a healthy soul.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'flower in the sky' are you still chasing because you have not stopped to notice you are already supplied?
  • Where would contentment, rather than more pursuit, actually serve your spiritual life better?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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