FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.5.25

ते च पित्रा समादिष्टा: प्रजासर्गे धृतव्रता: । नारायणसरो जग्मुर्यत्र सिद्धा: स्वपूर्वजा: ॥ २५ ॥
te ca pitrā samādiṣṭāḥ
[te cha pitraa samaadishtaah]
prajā-sarge dhṛta-vratāḥ
[prajaa-sarge dhrita-vrataah]
nārāyaṇa-saro jagmur
[naaraayana-saro jagmur]
yatra siddhāḥ sva-pūrvajāḥ
[yatra siddhaah sva-poorvajaah]
te — these sons (the Savalāśvas) ca — and pitrā — by their father samādiṣṭāḥ — being ordered prajā-sarge — in increasing progeny or population dhṛta-vratāḥ — accepted vows nārāyaṇa-saraḥ — the holy lake named Nārāyaṇa-saras jagmuḥ — went to yatra — where siddhāḥ — perfected sva-pūrva-jāḥ — their older brothers, who had previously gone there.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
te ca pitrā samādiṣṭāḥ
te
these sons (the Savalāśvas)
ca
and
pitrā
by their father
samādiṣṭāḥ
being ordered
prajā-sarge dhṛta-vratāḥ
prajā-sarge
in increasing progeny or population
dhṛta-vratāḥ
accepted vows
nārāyaṇa-saro jagmur
nārāyaṇa-saraḥ
the holy lake named Nārāyaṇa-saras
jagmuḥ
went to
yatra siddhāḥ sva-pūrvajāḥ
yatra
where
siddhāḥ
perfected
sva-pūrva-jāḥ
their older brothers, who had previously gone there.
In accordance with their father’s order to beget children, the second group of sons also went to Nārāyaṇa-saras, the same place where their brothers had previously attained perfection by following the instructions of Nārada. Undertaking great vows of austerity, the Savalāśvas remained at that holy place.

Prajāpati Dakṣa sent his second group of sons to the same place where his previous sons had attained perfection. He did not hesitate to send his second group of sons to the same place, although they too might become victims of Nārada’s instructions. According to the Vedic culture, one should be trained in spiritual understanding as a brahmacārī before entering household life to beget children. This is the Vedic system. Thus Prajāpati Dakṣa sent his second group of sons for cultural improvement, despite the risk that because of the instructions of Nārada they might become as intelligent as their older brothers. As a dutiful father, he did not hesitate to allow his sons to receive cultural instructions concerning the perfection of life; he depended upon them to choose whether to return home, back to Godhead, or to rot in this material world in various species of life. In all circumstances, the duty of the father is to give cultural education to his sons, who must later decide which way to go. Responsible fathers should not hinder their sons who are making cultural advancement in association with the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. This is not a father’s duty. The duty of a father is to give his son complete freedom to make his choice after becoming spiritually advanced by following the instructions of the spiritual master.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In accordance with their father's order to beget children, the second group of sons, to undertake great vows of austerity, also went to Nārāyaṇa-saras, where their brothers had previously attained perfection.
The Savalāśvas, told to beget children, went to the same Nārāyaṇa-saras where their brothers had attained perfection. The Lord uses the same scenery to invite the same realization.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'same place' is being offered to me again with a new chance?
  • Am I noticing the pattern, or just walking past?
📝 My note

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