FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.1.10

భగవానపి భారత తదుపనీతార్హణ: సూక్తవాకేనాతితరాముదితగుణగణావతారసుజయ: ప్రియవ్రతమాది పురుషస్తం సదయహాసావలోక ఇతి హోవాచ ॥ ౧౦ ॥
bhagavān api bhārata tad-upanītārhaṇaḥ sūkta-vākenātitarām udita-guṇa-gaṇāvatāra-sujayaḥ priyavratam ādi-puruṣas taṁ sadaya-hāsāvaloka iti hovāca.
[bhagavaan api bhaarata tad-upaneetaarhanah sookta-vaakenaatitaraam udita-guna-ganaavataara-sujayah priyavratam aadi-purushas tam sadaya-haasaavaloka iti hovaacha.]
bhagavān — Lord Brahmā api — moreover bhārata — O King Parīkṣit tat — by them upanīta — brought forward arhaṇaḥ — worshipable paraphernalia sūkta — according to Vedic etiquette vākena — by language atitarām — highly udita — praised guṇa-gaṇa — qualities avatāra — because of the descent su-jayaḥ — whose glories priyavratam — unto Priyavrata ādi-puruṣaḥ — the original person tam — unto him sa-daya — with compassion hāsa — smiling avalokaḥ — whose looking iti — thus ha — certainly uvāca — said.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
bhagavān api bhārata tad-upanītārhaṇaḥ sūkta-vākenātitarām udita-guṇa-gaṇāvatāra-sujayaḥ priyavratam ādi-puruṣas taṁ sadaya-hāsāvaloka iti hovāca.
bhagavān
Lord Brahmā
api
moreover
bhārata
O King Parīkṣit
tat
by them
upanīta
brought forward
arhaṇaḥ
worshipable paraphernalia
sūkta
according to Vedic etiquette
vākena
by language
atitarām
highly
udita
praised
guṇa-gaṇa
qualities
avatāra
because of the descent
su-jayaḥ
whose glories
priyavratam
unto Priyavrata
ādi-puruṣaḥ
the original person
tam
unto him
sa-daya
with compassion
hāsa
smiling
avalokaḥ
whose looking
iti
thus
ha
certainly
uvāca
said.
My dear King Parīkṣit, because Lord Brahmā had finally descended from Satyaloka to Bhūloka, Nārada Muni, Prince Priyavrata and Svāyambhuva Manu came forward to offer him objects of worship and to praise him in highly qualified language, according to Vedic etiquette. At that time, Lord Brahmā, the original person of this universe, felt compassion for Priyavrata and, looking upon him with a smiling face, spoke to him as follows.

That Lord Brahmā descended from Satyaloka to see Priyavrata indicates that the matter was very serious. Nārada Muni had come to advise Priyavrata about the value of spiritual life, knowledge, renunciation and bhakti, and Lord Brahmā knew that Nārada’s instructions were very impressive. Therefore unless Lord Brahmā personally went to Gandhamādana Hill to request Priyavrata, Lord Brahmā knew that Prince Priyavrata would not accept his father’s order. Brahmā’s purpose was to break Priyavrata’s determination. Therefore Brahmā first looked upon Priyavrata with compassion. His smile and compassionate features also indicated that although Brahmā would request Priyavrata to accept household life, Priyavrata would not be out of touch with devotional service. By the blessings of a Vaiṣṇava, everything is possible. This is described in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu as kṛpā-siddhi, or perfection attained simply by the blessings of a superior person. One usually becomes liberated and perfect by executing the regulative principles set down in the śāstras. Nonetheless, many persons have achieved perfection simply by the blessings of a spiritual master or superior.

Priyavrata was the grandson of Lord Brahmā, and as joking competition sometimes takes place between grandson and grandfather, in this case also Priyavrata was determined to remain in meditation, whereas Brahmā was determined that he rule the universe. Thus Lord Brahmā’s affectionate smile and glance meant, “My dear Priyavrata, you have decided not to accept household life, but I have decided to convince you that you must accept it.” Actually, Brahmā had come to praise Priyavrata for his high standard of renunciation, austerity, penance and devotion so that he would not be deviated from devotional service, even though he would accept household life.

In this verse, one important word is sūkta-vākena (by Vedic hymns). In the Vedas, there is the following prayer to Lord Brahmā: hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartatāgre bhūtasya jātaḥ patir eka āsīt. Brahmā was received with the appropriate Vedic hymns, and because he was welcomed according to the Vedic etiquette, he was very pleased.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O Parīkṣit! After Nārada, Manu and Priyavrata presented offerings, Lord Brahmā, whose glorious appearance of affection for the progeny is glorified constantly by the Vedas, looking at Priyavrata with mercy and a smile, spoke. It should be understood that Nārada had been giving instructions to Priyavrata at that time, and Manu had come to bring Priyavrata home. Lord (bhagavān) Brahmā, who was presented offerings by Nārada, Manu and Priyavrata, who was glorious for having descended to show affection to his progeny, described profusely by worship of the Vedas, then spoke to Priyavrata. Brahmā had a merciful glance. “I have interrupted his bhakti, jṣāna and vairāgya, but even in household life, may his bhakti should increase!” He looked at his grandson with a smile. “To refuse the kingdom is your stubbornness. I will make you rule the kingdom. That is my stubbornness. I will see whose stubbornness will prevail.”
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 1