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 disse: No estágio final de sua vida, quando o Mahārāja Pṛthu viu que estava envelhecendo, aquela grande alma, rei do mundo, distribuiu segundo o dharma toda a opulência que havia acumulado entre todos os seres, móveis e imóveis, e providenciou o sustento de cada um conforme os princípios religiosos. Depois de cumprir as ordens da Suprema Personalidade de Deus em plena harmonia com Ele, confiou a Terra — tida como sua filha — aos seus filhos. Então, deixando os cidadãos que choravam pela separação, partiu sozinho com sua esposa para a floresta de austeridades a fim de praticar 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.