Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 6
The Priyavrata Dynasty Continues: Sumati’s Line and the Glorification of Mahārāja Gaya
भूम्न ऋषिकुल्यायामुद्गीथस्तत: प्रस्तावो देवकुल्यायां प्रस्तावान्नियुत्सायां हृदयज आसीद्विभुर्विभो रत्यां च पृथुषेणस्तस्मान्नक्त आकूत्यां जज्ञे नक्ताद्द्रुतिपुत्रो गयो राजर्षिप्रवर उदारश्रवा अजायत साक्षाद्भगवतो विष्णोर्जगद्रिरक्षिषया गृहीतसत्त्वस्य कलाऽऽत्मवत्त्वादिलक्षणेन महापुरुषतां प्राप्त: ॥ ६ ॥
bhūmna ṛṣikulyāyām udgīthas tataḥ prastāvo devakulyāyāṁ prastāvān niyutsāyāṁ hṛdayaja āsīd vibhur vibho ratyāṁ ca pṛthuṣeṇas tasmān nakta ākūtyāṁ jajñe naktād druti-putro gayo rājarṣi-pravara udāra-śravā ajāyata sākṣād bhagavato viṣṇor jagad-rirakṣiṣayā gṛhīta-sattvasya kalātmavattvādi-lakṣaṇena mahā-puruṣatāṁ prāptaḥ.
布玛与妻梨师库利雅生子乌德吉塔（Udgītha）。乌德吉塔与妻德瓦库利雅生子普拉斯塔瓦（Prastāva）；普拉斯塔瓦与妻尼尤特萨生子毗布（Vibhu）；毗布与妻拉蒂生子普鲁图舍那（Pṛthuṣeṇa）；普鲁图舍那与妻阿库蒂生子纳克塔（Nakta）；纳克塔与妻德鲁蒂生下伟大的伽耶王（Gaya）。伽耶王名闻遐迩、至为虔净，是圣王之最。为护持宇宙而显现的毗湿奴及其诸扩展恒住于超越清净善性——“毗输达·萨特瓦”（viśuddha-sattva）；伽耶王既为毗湿奴的直接扩展，亦安住于此清净善性，具足超越智慧，故被称为“摩诃补鲁沙”（Mahāpuruṣa）。
From this verse it appears that the incarnations of God are various. Some are part and parcel of the direct expansions, and some are direct expansions of Lord Viṣṇu. A direct incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called aṁśa or svāṁśa, whereas an incarnation from aṁśa is called kalā. Among the kalās there are the vibhinnāṁśa-jīvas, or living entities. These are counted among the jīva-tattvas. Those who come directly from Lord Viṣṇu are called viṣṇu-tattva and are sometimes designated as Mahāpuruṣa. Another name for Kṛṣṇa is Mahāpuruṣa, and a devotee is sometimes called mahā-pauruṣika.
FAQs
This verse identifies Gaya as the son in Priyavrata’s royal line (via Nakta) and describes him as a foremost rājarṣi, famed for generosity and righteousness.
The verse says Viṣṇu accepted (empowered) Gaya for jagat-rakṣaṇa—protecting the world—so his greatness is not merely political but divinely supported, marked by mahāpuruṣa qualities.
It highlights leadership as service—protecting others, living with self-mastery, and using one’s influence for dharma rather than ego.