Shloka 4

The Priyavrata Dynasty Continues: Sumati’s Line and the Glorification of Mahārāja Gaya

Devanagari script

य आत्मविद्यामाख्याय स्वयं संशुद्धो महापुरुषमनुसस्मार ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

ya ātma-vidyām ākhyāya svayaṁ saṁśuddho mahā-puruṣam anusasmāra.

Translation

King Pratīha personally taught the principles of self-realization; thus he became purified, a great devotee of the Supreme Person, Lord Viṣṇu, and realized Him directly.

Synonyms

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• आत्म-विद्याम्: self-knowledge
• आत्म-विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—आत्मनः विद्या (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• आख्याय: having taught
• आख्याय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ख्या (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; अर्थः ‘having taught/declared’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdeshaka (कर्तृ-निर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘himself/by himself’

• संशुद्धः: purified
• संशुद्धः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + शुध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) ‘purified’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि विशेषणत्वेन

• महापुरुषम्: the Supreme Person
• महापुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—महान् पुरुषः (कर्मधारय)

• अनुसस्मार: remembered/meditated on
• अनुसस्मार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; अर्थः ‘remembered/meditated upon’

Purport

The word anusasmāra is very significant. God consciousness is not imaginary or concocted. The devotee who is pure and advanced realizes God as He is. Mahārāja Pratīha did so, and due to his direct realization of Lord Viṣṇu, he propagated self-realization and became a preacher. A real preacher cannot be bogus; he must first of all realize Lord Viṣṇu as He is. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34) , upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ: “One who has seen the truth can impart knowledge.” The word tattva-darśī refers to one who has perfectly realized the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a person can become a guru and propound Vaiṣṇava philosophy all over the world. The paragon of bona fide preachers and gurus is King Pratīha.

Characters & Entities

• Mahāpuruṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about ātma-vidyā (knowledge of the Self)?

This verse shows that ātma-vidyā is not merely theoretical—after teaching it, the realized soul becomes purified and naturally fixes the mind on the Supreme Person (Mahāpuruṣa).

Why does the speaker mention remembering the Mahāpuruṣa after teaching spiritual knowledge?

Because the culmination of true self-knowledge in the Bhagavatam is devotionally directed remembrance of the Lord; instruction matures into steady God-centered meditation.

Practical application of remembering the Supreme Person in modern life?

Study genuine spiritual teachings, then daily bring the mind back to the Lord through remembrance—such as japa, prayer, or mindful recollection—so knowledge becomes lived purification.