Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 6
The Priyavrata Dynasty Continues: Sumati’s Line and the Glorification of Mahārāja Gaya
भूम्न ऋषिकुल्यायामुद्गीथस्तत: प्रस्तावो देवकुल्यायां प्रस्तावान्नियुत्सायां हृदयज आसीद्विभुर्विभो रत्यां च पृथुषेणस्तस्मान्नक्त आकूत्यां जज्ञे नक्ताद्द्रुतिपुत्रो गयो राजर्षिप्रवर उदारश्रवा अजायत साक्षाद्भगवतो विष्णोर्जगद्रिरक्षिषया गृहीतसत्त्वस्य कलाऽऽत्मवत्त्वादिलक्षणेन महापुरुषतां प्राप्त: ॥ ६ ॥
bhūmna ṛṣikulyāyām udgīthas tataḥ prastāvo devakulyāyāṁ prastāvān niyutsāyāṁ hṛdayaja āsīd vibhur vibho ratyāṁ ca pṛthuṣeṇas tasmān nakta ākūtyāṁ jajñe naktād druti-putro gayo rājarṣi-pravara udāra-śravā ajāyata sākṣād bhagavato viṣṇor jagad-rirakṣiṣayā gṛhīta-sattvasya kalātmavattvādi-lakṣaṇena mahā-puruṣatāṁ prāptaḥ.
En el vientre de Ṛṣikulyā, esposa de Bhūmā, nació Udgītha. De la esposa de Udgītha, Devakulyā, nació Prastāva; Prastāva engendró a Vibhu en Niyutsā; Vibhu engendró a Pṛthuṣeṇa en Ratī; Pṛthuṣeṇa engendró a Nakta en Ākūti; y de Druti, esposa de Nakta, nació el gran rey Gaya. Gaya fue célebre y piadoso, el mejor de los reyes santos. Puesto que era una expansión directa del Señor Viṣṇu, protector del universo, que mora en la bondad trascendental llamada viśuddha-sattva, Mahārāja Gaya también permanecía en viśuddha-sattva; por ello, colmado de conocimiento divino, fue llamado Mahāpuruṣa.
From this verse it appears that the incarnations of God are various. Some are part and parcel of the direct expansions, and some are direct expansions of Lord Viṣṇu. A direct incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called aṁśa or svāṁśa, whereas an incarnation from aṁśa is called kalā. Among the kalās there are the vibhinnāṁśa-jīvas, or living entities. These are counted among the jīva-tattvas. Those who come directly from Lord Viṣṇu are called viṣṇu-tattva and are sometimes designated as Mahāpuruṣa. Another name for Kṛṣṇa is Mahāpuruṣa, and a devotee is sometimes called mahā-pauruṣika.
FAQs
This verse identifies Gaya as the son in Priyavrata’s royal line (via Nakta) and describes him as a foremost rājarṣi, famed for generosity and righteousness.
The verse says Viṣṇu accepted (empowered) Gaya for jagat-rakṣaṇa—protecting the world—so his greatness is not merely political but divinely supported, marked by mahāpuruṣa qualities.
It highlights leadership as service—protecting others, living with self-mastery, and using one’s influence for dharma rather than ego.