FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.5.26

श्रीशुक उवाच अथाम्बरीषस्तनयेषु राज्यं समानशीलेषु विसृज्य धीर: । वनं विवेशात्मनि वासुदेवे मनो दधद् ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाह: ॥ २६ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
[shree-shuka uvaacha]
athāmbarīṣas tanayeṣu rājyaṁ
[athaambareeshas tanayeshu raajyam]
samāna-śīleṣu visṛjya dhīraḥ
[samaana-sheeleshu visrijya dheerah]
vanaṁ viveśātmani vāsudeve
[vanam viveshaatmani vaasudeve]
mano dadhad dhvasta-guṇa-pravāhaḥ
[mano dadhad dhvasta-guna-pravaahah]
Word-for-word
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said atha — in this way ambarīṣaḥ — King Ambarīṣa tanayeṣu — unto his sons rājyam — the kingdom samāna-śīleṣu — who were equally as qualified as their father visṛjya — dividing dhīraḥ — the most learned person, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa vanam — into the forest viveśa — entered ātmani — unto the Supreme Lord vāsudeve — Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Vāsudeva manaḥ — mind dadhat — concentrating dhvasta — vanquished guṇa-pravāhaḥ — the waves of the material modes of nature.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-śuka uvāca
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
athāmbarīṣas tanayeṣu rājyaṁ
atha
in this way
ambarīṣaḥ
King Ambarīṣa
tanayeṣu
unto his sons
rājyam
the kingdom
samāna-śīleṣu visṛjya dhīraḥ
samāna-śīleṣu
who were equally as qualified as their father
visṛjya
dividing
dhīraḥ
the most learned person, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa
vanaṁ viveśātmani vāsudeve
vanam
into the forest
viveśa
entered
ātmani
unto the Supreme Lord
vāsudeve
Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is known as Vāsudeva
mano dadhad dhvasta-guṇa-pravāhaḥ
manaḥ
mind
dadhat
concentrating
dhvasta
vanquished
guṇa-pravāhaḥ
the waves of the material modes of nature.
Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Thereafter, because of his advanced position in devotional life, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, who no longer desired to live with material things, retired from active family life. He divided his property among his sons, who were equally as qualified, and he himself took the order of vānaprastha and went to the forest to concentrate his mind fully upon Lord Vāsudeva.
Purport

As a pure devotee, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was liberated in any condition of life because, as enunciated by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, a devotee is always liberated.

īhā yasya harer dāsye karmaṇā manasā girā nikhilāsv apy avasthāsu jīvan-muktaḥ sa ucyate

In Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī thus instructs that if one’s only desire is service to the Lord, he is liberated in any condition of life. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was undoubtedly liberated in any condition, but as an ideal king he accepted the vānaprastha order of retirement from family life. It is essential for one to renounce family responsibilities and fully concentrate on the lotus feet of Vāsudeva. Therefore Mahārāja Ambarīṣa divided the kingdom among his sons and retired from family life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thereafter, the learned Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, having destroyed the agitation of the guṇas, divided his kingdom among his sons, who were equally qualified, and entered the forest to concentrate his mind fully upon Lord Vāsudeva. He entered the forest to concentrate his mind on Vāsudeva.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Ambarīṣa retires not because he has failed at family life but because he has perfected its purpose. Renunciation done in due season is a fruit, not an escape, and it is best when one's responsibilities have been handed off in good order.
Reflection Questions
  • Am I treating my present āśrama as a stage to ripen in, or as a permanent identity?
  • What would 'leaving things in good order' look like in the responsibilities I currently carry?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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