Shloka 4
Lord Viṣṇu Instructs Pṛthu: Forgiveness, Ātmā-Deha Viveka, and the Bhakti Ideal of Kingship
पुरुषा यदि मुह्यन्ति त्वादृशा देवमायया । श्रम एव परं जातो दीर्घया वृद्धसेवया ॥ ४ ॥
puruṣā yadi muhyanti tvādṛśā deva-māyayā śrama eva paraṁ jāto dīrghayā vṛddha-sevayā
If even a person like you—so advanced by faithfully following the instructions of the previous ācāryas—becomes bewildered by My divine māyā, then the progress gained through long service to elders is reduced to mere wasted labor.
In this verse the word vṛddha-sevayā is very significant. Vṛddha means “old”; sevayā means “by service.” Perfect knowledge is acquired from the ācāryas, or liberated souls. No one can be perfect in knowledge without being trained by the paramparā system. Pṛthu Mahārāja was completely trained in that line; therefore he did not deserve to be considered an ordinary man. An ordinary man, who has only a conception of bodily existence, is always bewildered by the modes of material nature.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even exalted, saintly personalities can be momentarily bewildered by the Lord’s divine potency, so one should remain humble and seek clarity through devotion and saintly guidance.
In his respectful exchange with the Kumāras, Pṛthu expresses deep humility—feeling that if such great sages can be influenced by māyā, then his long cultivation through serving elders seems fruitless without true spiritual realization.
Recognize that even intelligent, experienced people can be confused; therefore, cultivate humility, verify understanding through scripture and saintly counsel, and keep steady devotional practice rather than trusting pride or mere seniority.