Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 2
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 dit : À la dernière étape de sa vie, lorsque Mahārāja Pṛthu se vit gagner par la vieillesse, cette grande âme, roi du monde, répartit selon le dharma toute l’opulence qu’il avait amassée entre tous les êtres, mobiles et immobiles, et assura à chacun de quoi subsister. Après avoir exécuté les ordres de la Suprême Personnalité de Dieu en parfaite harmonie avec Lui, il confia la Terre — tenue pour sa fille — à ses fils. Puis, quittant des sujets qui pleuraient de la séparation, il se rendit seul avec son épouse dans la forêt des austérités afin d’accomplir la 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
After seeing old age and completing the Lord’s purpose—protecting and maintaining the world while establishing dharma—Pṛthu entrusted family responsibilities and left with his wife to practice austerity and detachment.
This verse describes the ideal ruler as one who provides livelihood for both moving and nonmoving beings and supports the dharmic among the saintly—governing as service to the Lord’s order.
Do your responsibilities conscientiously, then gradually hand over duties at the right time, simplify life, and increase spiritual practice—remembering that work is meant to fulfill God’s purpose, not to bind the mind.