Shloka 14

Devanagari script

पित्रादिष्टा: प्रजासर्गे तपसेऽर्णवमाविशन् । दशवर्षसहस्राणि तपसार्चंस्तपस्पतिम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

pitrādiṣṭāḥ prajā-sarge tapase ’rṇavam āviśan daśa-varṣa-sahasrāṇi tapasārcaṁs tapas-patim

Translation

Ordered by their father to create progeny, the Pracetās entered the ocean. For ten thousand years they performed austerities, worshiping the Lord of all tapas—Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms

• pitṛ-ādiṣṭāḥ: instructed by (their) father
• pitṛ-ādiṣṭāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitṛ + ādiṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; ādiṣṭa = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √diś (दिश्) with उपसर्ग ā-; समासः: पित्रा आदिष्टाः (तत्पुरुष)

• prajā-sarge: in the creation of progeny
• prajā-sarge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā + sarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समासः: प्रजायाः सर्गः (तत्पुरुष)

• tapase: for austerity
• tapase: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• arṇavam: the ocean
• arṇavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āviśan: entered
• āviśan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: viś (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; उपसर्ग ā-

• daśa-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: ten thousand years
• daśa-varṣa-sahasrāṇi: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daśa + varṣa + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समासः: दश वर्षाणां सहस्राणि (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• arcaṁs: they worshipped
• arcaṁs: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada; form with nasal infix per class 1 usage in epic/purāṇic style

• tapas-patim: the lord of austerity
• tapas-patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः: तपसः पतिः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Purport

Sometimes great sages and ascetics enter the Himālaya Mountains in order to find seclusion from the turmoil of the world. It appears, however, that all the Pracetās, the sons of Prācīnabarhi, entered the depths of the ocean to perform austerity in a secluded place. Since they performed austerities for ten thousand years, this incident took place in the Satya-yuga, when people used to live for a hundred thousand years. It is also significant that by their austerity they worshiped the master of austerity, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one wants to perform austerities and penances in order to attain the supreme goal, one must attain the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one achieves the favor of the Supreme Lord, it is to be understood that he has finished all kinds of austerities and penances and has attained efficiency in their execution. On the other hand, if one does not attain the perfect stage of devotional service, all austerities and penances actually have no meaning, for without the Supreme Lord no one can attain the highest results derived from performing them. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) , Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the master of all penances and sacrifices ( bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram ). Thus the desired result of performing austerities may be derived from Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Characters & Entities

• Pracetās
• King Prācīnabarhi

FAQs

Why did the Pracetās enter the ocean in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.14?

They entered the ocean to perform intense tapasya, following their father’s instruction to prepare themselves for the duty of generating progeny.

Who is called ‘Tapaspati’ in Bhagavatam 4.24.14?

‘Tapaspati’ means the lord of austerities and here refers to Lord Śiva (Rudra), whom the Pracetās worshiped through their penance.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 4.24.14 for modern life?

Before taking up major responsibilities, one should cultivate discipline and devotion—using regulated practice (tapasya) to purify intentions and strengthen spiritual focus.