Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 23
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
इति ह वाव स जगतीपतिरीश्वरेच्छयाधिनिवेशितकर्माधिकारोऽखिलजगद्बन्धध्वंसनपरानुभावस्य भगवत आदिपुरुषस्याङ्घ्रियुगलानवरतध्यानानुभावेन परिरन्धितकषायाशयोऽवदातोऽपि मानवर्धनो महतां महीतलमनुशशास ॥ २३ ॥
iti ha vāva sa jagatī-patir īśvarecchayādhiniveśita-karmādhikāro ’khila-jagad-bandha-dhvaṁsana-parānubhāvasya bhagavata ādi-puruṣasyāṅghri-yugalānavarata-dhyānānubhāvena parirandhita-kaṣāyāśayo ’vadāto ’pi māna-vardhano mahatāṁ mahītalam anuśaśāsa.
Vì thế, Mahārāja Priyavrata, bậc chủ tể thế gian, theo ý chí của Thượng Đế mà đảm nhận trách vụ đời. Tuy vậy, ngài luôn không ngừng thiền niệm đôi chân sen của Ādi-Puruṣa, Bhagavān, Đấng có uy lực phá tan mọi trói buộc của thế gian. Nhờ năng lực thiền niệm ấy, tâm ngài đã thanh tịnh; dẫu vậy, để tôn trọng mệnh lệnh của bậc trưởng thượng, ngài vẫn trị vì cõi đất này.
The words māna-vardhano mahatām (“just to show honor to superiors”) are very significant. Although Mahārāja Priyavrata was already a liberated person and had no attraction for material things, he engaged himself fully in governmental affairs just to show respect to Lord Brahmā. Arjuna had also acted in the same way. Arjuna had no desire to participate in political affairs or the fighting at Kurukṣetra, but when ordered to do so by the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, he executed those duties very nicely. One who always thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord is certainly above all the contamination of the material world. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā:
FAQs
This verse says a king may perform worldly responsibilities by the Lord’s will, yet remain purified through uninterrupted meditation on the Lord’s lotus feet, governing in a saintly, exemplary way.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes the earth’s ruler (Ṛṣabhadeva in this chapter) as inwardly purified and passionless due to constant meditation on Bhagavān, the Original Person.
Keep steady remembrance through daily japa, hearing/reading Bhāgavatam, and offering your work as service—so duties continue, but inner passions and anxieties become restrained.