Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.19.17

iti sma rājādhyavasāya-yuktah

prācīna-mūleshu kuśeshu dhīrah

udań-mukho dakshina-kūla āste

samudra-patnyāh sva-suta-nyasta-bhārah

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; sma — as in the past; rājā — the King; adhyavasāya — perseverance; yuktah — being engaged; prācīna — eastern; mūleshu — with the root; kuśeshu — on a seat made of kuśa straw; dhīrah — self-controlled; udań-mukhah — facing the northern side; dakshina — on the southern; kūle — bank; āste — situated; samudra — the sea; patnyāh — wife of (the Ganges); sva — own; suta — son; nyasta — given over; bhārah — the charge of administration.

TRANSLATION

In perfect self-control, Mahārāja Parīkshit sat down on a seat of straw, with straw-roots facing the east, placed on the southern bank of the Ganges, and he himself faced the north. Just previously he had given charge of his kingdom over to his son.

PURPORT

The River Ganges is celebrated as the wife of the sea. The seat of kuśa straw is considered to be sanctified if the straw is taken out of the earth complete with root, and if the root is pointed toward the east it is considered to be auspicious. Facing the north is still more favorable for attaining spiritual success. Mahārāja Parīkshit handed over the charge of administration to his son before leaving home. He was thus fully equipped for all favorable conditions.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness