Shloka 3
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History
मैत्रेय उवाच दृष्ट्वात्मानं प्रवयसमेकदा वैन्य आत्मवान् । आत्मना वर्धिताशेषस्वानुसर्ग: प्रजापति: ॥ १ ॥ जगतस्तस्थुषश्चापि वृत्तिदो धर्मभृत्सताम् । निष्पादितेश्वरादेशो यदर्थमिह जज्ञिवान् ॥ २ ॥ आत्मजेष्वात्मजां न्यस्य विरहाद्रुदतीमिव । प्रजासु विमन:स्वेक: सदारोऽगात्तपोवनम् ॥ ३ ॥
maitreya uvāca dṛṣṭvātmānaṁ pravayasam ekadā vainya ātmavān ātmanā vardhitāśeṣa- svānusargaḥ prajāpatiḥ
Maitreya said: When, at life’s final stage, Mahārāja Pṛthu (son of Vena) saw himself growing old, that great soul—the ruler of the world—distributed, in accord with dharma, all the opulence he had amassed among all beings, moving and unmoving, and arranged proper maintenance for everyone. Having executed the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in full harmony with Him, he entrusted the Earth—regarded as his daughter—to his sons. Then, leaving his citizens who wept in separation, he went with his wife, alone, to the forest of austerity to perform tapasya.
Mahārāja Pṛthu was one of the śaktyāveśa incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such he appeared on the surface of the earth to execute the orders of the Supreme. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the Supreme Lord is the proprietor of all planets, and He is always anxious to see that in each and every planet the living entities are happily living and executing their duties. As soon as there is some discrepancy in the execution of duties, the Lord appears on earth, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7) : yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata.
FAQs
Because he saw old age approaching and, having fulfilled the Supreme Lord’s purpose—protecting and maintaining the world in righteousness—he adopted renunciation and went with his wife to a forest of austerity.
It teaches that leadership is service to God’s order: maintain the citizens and uphold dharma; then, when duty is completed, cultivate detachment and move toward spiritual life rather than clinging to power.
Do your responsibilities conscientiously as an offering to the Lord, and gradually simplify life—reducing possessiveness and ego—so spiritual practice becomes primary as life advances.