Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 14
The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka
तद्द्वीपपति: प्रैयव्रतो राजन् हिरण्यरेता नाम स्वं द्वीपं सप्तभ्य: स्वपुत्रेभ्यो यथाभागं विभज्य स्वयं तप आतिष्ठत वसुवसुदानदृढरुचिनाभिगुप्तस्तुत्यव्रतविविक्तवामदेवनामभ्य: ॥ १४ ॥
tad-dvīpa-patiḥ praiyavrato rājan hiraṇyaretā nāma svaṁ dvīpaṁ saptabhyaḥ sva-putrebhyo yathā-bhāgaṁ vibhajya svayaṁ tapa ātiṣṭhata vasu-vasudāna-dṛḍharuci-nābhigupta-stutyavrata-vivikta-vāmadeva-nāmabhyaḥ.
Wahai Raja, Hiraṇyaretā, putera Mahārāja Priyavrata, ialah raja bagi Kuśadvīpa ini. Baginda membahagikan pulaunya kepada tujuh bahagian dan menyerahkannya kepada tujuh puteranya menurut hak warisan. Setelah itu baginda berundur daripada kehidupan berkeluarga untuk menegakkan tapa. Nama putera-puteranya ialah Vasu, Vasudāna, Dṛḍharuci, Stutyavrata, Nābhigupta, Vivikta dan Vāmadeva.
FAQs
This verse shows Hiraṇyaretā responsibly distributing his kingdom among his sons and then personally taking up austerity, illustrating renunciation after duty (gṛhastha-to-vairāgya progression).
Śukadeva is narrating royal lineages and governance to King Parīkṣit, making the instruction directly relevant to a ruler who must balance administration with spiritual urgency.
Do your responsibilities fairly (share resources, plan succession, avoid exploitation), and cultivate tapas—disciplined spiritual practice and detachment—rather than clinging to control or possessions.