Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 20
The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka
तस्मिन्नपि प्रैयव्रतो घृतपृष्ठो नामाधिपति: स्वे द्वीपे वर्षाणि सप्त विभज्य तेषु पुत्रनामसु सप्त रिक्थादान् वर्षपान्निवेश्य स्वयं भगवान् भगवत: परमकल्याणयशस आत्मभूतस्य हरेश्चरणारविन्दमुपजगाम ॥ २० ॥
tasminn api praiyavrato ghṛtapṛṣṭho nāmādhipatiḥ sve dvīpe varṣāṇi sapta vibhajya teṣu putra-nāmasu sapta rikthādān varṣapān niveśya svayaṁ bhagavān bhagavataḥ parama-kalyāṇa-yaśasa ātma-bhūtasya hareś caraṇāravindam upajagāma.
Pemerintah pulau itu ialah seorang lagi putera Mahārāja Priyavrata, bernama Ghṛtapṛṣṭha. Baginda membahagikan pulaunya kepada tujuh wilayah dan menamakannya menurut nama tujuh puteranya. Setelah pembahagian itu, Ghṛtapṛṣṭha Mahārāja meninggalkan kehidupan berumah tangga sepenuhnya, berlindung pada kaki teratai Bhagavān Hari—Ātman bagi segala ātman, termasyhur dengan segala kebajikan—lalu mencapai kesempurnaan.
FAQs
This verse shows an ideal ruler: he properly divides and entrusts governance to qualified sons, then personally turns to exclusive devotion—taking shelter of Lord Hari’s lotus feet.
In the cosmological narration of Canto 5, Śukadeva explains how different regions are organized and ruled; the division into seven varṣas establishes both the world-structure and the lineage of governance.
Fulfill responsibilities with order and fairness, delegate properly, and then prioritize spiritual life—cultivating steady bhakti by taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.