FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.18.2

राज्यं नैच्छद् यति: पित्रा दत्तं तत्परिणामवित् । यत्र प्रविष्ट: पुरुष आत्मानं नावबुध्यते ॥ २ ॥
rājyaṁ naicchad yatiḥ pitrā
[raajyam naichchad yatih pitraa]
dattaṁ tat-pariṇāmavit
[dattam tat-parinaamavit]
yatra praviṣṭaḥ puruṣa
[yatra pravishtah purusha]
ātmānaṁ nāvabudhyate
[aatmaanam naavabudhyate]
rājyam — the kingdom na aicchat — did not accept yatiḥ — the eldest son, Yati pitrā — by his father dattam — offered tat-pariṇāma-vit — knowing the result of becoming powerful as a king yatra — wherein praviṣṭaḥ — having entered puruṣaḥ — such a person ātmānam — self-realization na — not avabudhyate — will take seriously and understand.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājyaṁ naicchad yatiḥ pitrā
rājyam
the kingdom
na aicchat
did not accept
yatiḥ
the eldest son, Yati
pitrā
by his father
dattaṁ tat-pariṇāmavit
dattam
offered
tat-pariṇāma-vit
knowing the result of becoming powerful as a king
yatra praviṣṭaḥ puruṣa
yatra
wherein
praviṣṭaḥ
having entered
puruṣaḥ
such a person
ātmānaṁ nāvabudhyate
ātmānam
self-realization
na
not
avabudhyate
will take seriously and understand.
When one enters the post of king or head of the government, one cannot understand the meaning of self-realization. Knowing this, Yati, the eldest son of Nahuṣa, did not accept the power to rule, although it was offered by his father.

Self-realization is the prime objective of human civilization, and it is regarded seriously by those who are situated in the mode of goodness and have developed the brahminical qualities. Kṣatriyas are generally endowed with material qualities conducive to gaining material wealth and enjoying sense gratification, but those who are spiritually advanced are not interested in material opulence. Indeed, they accept only the bare necessities for a life of spiritual advancement in self-realization. It is specifically mentioned here that if one enters political life, especially in the modern day, one loses the chance for human perfection. Nonetheless, one can attain the highest perfection if one hears Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. This hearing is described as nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was involved in politics, but because at the end of his life he heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, he attained perfection very easily. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has therefore suggested:

sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir ye prāyaśo ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyām

( Bhāg. 10.14.3 )

Regardless of whether one is in the mode of passion, ignorance or goodness, if one regularly hears Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the self-realized soul, one is freed from the bondage of material involvement.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Knowing that by ruling the kingdom a person cannot realize his real self, Yati, the eldest son of Nahuṣa, did not accept the kingdom, although it was offered by his father.
Related verses
Yati refuses the throne because he knows kingship blocks self-realization. The wise sometimes turn down promotion because they have already calculated its spiritual cost.
Reflection Questions
  • What promotion am I about to accept whose spiritual cost I have not yet calculated?
  • Where could a graceful refusal preserve a more important inner project?
📝 My note

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