Shloka 13
Nābhi’s Sacrifice and Lord Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as a Son (Ṛṣabhadeva’s Advent Prelude)
किञ्चायं राजर्षिरपत्यकाम: प्रजां भवादृशीमाशासान ईश्वरमाशिषां स्वर्गापवर्गयोरपि भवन्तमुपधावति प्रजायामर्थप्रत्ययो धनदमिवाधन: फलीकरणम् ॥ १३ ॥
kiñcāyaṁ rājarṣir apatya-kāmaḥ prajāṁ bhavādṛśīm āśāsāna īśvaram āśiṣāṁ svargāpavargayor api bhavantam upadhāvati prajāyām artha-pratyayo dhanadam ivādhanaḥ phalīkaraṇam.
さらに主よ、この聖王ナービは子を望み、あなたに等しい子孫を願って、あらゆる祝福の主であるあなたに近づいています。あなたは天界も解脱も授け得るのに、彼はただ子を求めてあなたを礼拝している—まるで貧者が大富豪に近づき、わずかな穀物を乞うように。
The priests were a little ashamed that King Nābhi was performing a great sacrifice just to ask the Lord’s benediction for a son. The Lord could offer him promotion to the heavenly planets or the Vaikuṇṭha planets. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught us how to approach the Supreme Lord and ask Him for the ultimate benediction. He said: na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye. He did not want to ask the Supreme Lord for anything material. Material opulence means riches, a nice family, a good wife and many followers, but an intelligent devotee doesn’t ask the Supreme Lord for anything material. His only prayer is: mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi. He wants to be engaged perpetually in the loving service of the Lord. He does not want promotion to the heavenly planets or mukti, liberation from material bondage. If this were the case, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would not have said, mama janmani janmani. It doesn’t matter to a devotee whether or not he takes birth life after life, as long as he remains a devotee. Actually eternal liberty means returning home, back to Godhead. A devotee is never concerned about anything material. Although Nābhi Mahārāja wanted a son like Viṣṇu, wanting a son like God is also a form of sense gratification. A pure devotee wants only to engage in the Lord’s loving service.
FAQs
This verse explains that even a saintly king may seek progeny and thus approach a supreme authority (here, Brahmā), believing that success and prosperity are fulfilled through offspring—much like a poor man seeks a benefactor for wealth.
Because Brahmā is capable of granting the highest benedictions, yet the king’s focus is on progeny—showing how deep worldly convictions can persist even in virtuous persons when duty, lineage, or desire is strong.
Examine what you run toward for “fulfillment” (status, family, success), and redirect that same urgency toward spiritual goals—seeking blessings with a higher purpose rather than only material outcomes.