Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 6
Priyavrata Accepts Kingship by Brahmā’s Instruction; Sapta-dvīpa Formation and Renunciation
यर्हि वाव ह राजन् स राजपुत्र: प्रियव्रत: परमभागवतो नारदस्य चरणोपसेवयाञ्जसावगतपरमार्थसतत्त्वो ब्रह्मसत्रेण दीक्षिष्यमाण: अवनितलपरिपालनायाम्नातप्रवरगुणगणैकान्तभाजनतया स्वपित्रोपामन्त्रितो भगवति वासुदेव एवाव्यवधानसमाधियोगेन समावेशित-सकलकारकक्रियाकलापो नैवाभ्यनन्दद्यद्यपि तदप्रत्याम्नातव्यं तदधिकरण आत्मनोऽन्यस्माद सतोऽपि पराभवमन्वीक्षमाण: ॥ ६ ॥
yarhi vāva ha rājan sa rāja-putraḥ priyavrataḥ parama-bhāgavato nāradasya caraṇopasevayāñjasāvagata-paramārtha-satattvo brahma-satreṇa dīkṣiṣyamāṇo ’vani-tala-paripālanāyāmnāta-pravara-guṇa-gaṇaikānta-bhājanatayā sva-pitropāmantrito bhagavati vāsudeva evāvyavadhāna-samādhi-yogena samāveśita-sakala-kāraka-kriyā-kalāpo naivābhyanandad yadyapi tad apratyāmnātavyaṁ tad-adhikaraṇa ātmano ’nyasmād asato ’pi parābhavam anvīkṣamāṇaḥ.
舒迦提婆继续说：“大王啊，王子普利耶弗拉塔是至高的奉献者；他侍奉师尊那罗陀的莲足，便轻易领悟了最高真义。正当他准备在梵祭中受灌顶时，父王依经典所示之义务，劝他承担治理大地之责。然而他以不间断的三昧瑜伽恒念瓦苏戴瓦，使一切感官与行动皆融入主的服务；因此虽不能违逆父命，却并不欣然接受，唯恐执政之担会使他偏离奉爱之道。”
Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura has sung, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā: “Without serving the lotus feet of a pure Vaiṣṇava or spiritual master, no one has ever attained perfect liberation from material bondage.” Prince Priyavrata regularly served the lotus feet of Nārada, and thus the Prince perfectly understood transcendental subjects in truth ( sa-tattvaḥ ). The word sa-tattvaḥ means that Priyavrata knew all the facts about the spirit soul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the relationship between the spirit soul and the Supreme Personality of Godhead and he also knew all about this material world and the relationship of the spirit soul and the Supreme Lord within the material world. Thus the Prince decided to engage himself only in rendering service to the Lord.
FAQs
This verse shows Priyavrata absorbed in Vāsudeva through unbroken samādhi, yet faced with an enjoined duty to rule; the Bhagavatam presents the tension and the need to honor duty without losing devotion.
Because his mind and actions were fully fixed on Vāsudeva, and he feared spiritual defeat or distraction even while living in the world if he accepted royal responsibilities.
Keep the core of life centered on remembrance and service to God, and perform unavoidable responsibilities carefully, watching for anything that weakens steady devotion.