Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.1.29

evam upaśamāyaneshu sva-tanayeshv atha jagatī-patir jagatīm arbudāny ekādaśa parivatsarānām avyāhatākhila-purusha-kāra-sāra-sambhrita-dor-danda-yugalāpīdita-maurvī-guna-stanita-viramita-dharma-pratipaksho barhishmatyāś cānudinam edhamāna-pramoda-prasarana-yaushinya-vrīdā-pramushita-hāsāvaloka-rucira-kshvely-ādibhih parābhūyamāna-viveka ivānavabudhyamāna iva mahāmanā bubhuje

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; upaśama-ayaneshu — all well qualified; sva-tanayeshu — his own sons; atha — thereafter; jagatī-patih — the master of the universe; jagatīm — the universe; arbudāni — arbudas (one arbuda equals 100,000,000); ekādaśa — eleven; parivatsarānām — of years; avyāhata — without being interrupted; akhila — universal; purusha-kāra — prowess; sāra — strength; sambhrita — endowed with; doh-dandah — of powerful arms; yugala — by the pair; āpīdita — being drawn; maurvī-guna — of the bowstring; stanita — by the loud sound; viramita — defeated; dharma — religious principles; pratipakshah — those who are against; barhishmatyāh — of his wife Barhishmatī; ca — and; anudinam — daily; edhamāna — increasing; pramoda — pleasing intercourse; prasarana — amiability; yaushinya — feminine behavior; vrīdā — by shyness; pramushita — held back; hāsa — laughing; avaloka — glancing; rucira — pleasing; kshveli-ādibhih — by exchanges of loving propensities; parābhūyamāna — being defeated; vivekah — his true knowledge; iva — like; anavabudhyamānah — a less intelligent person; iva — like; mahā-manāh — the great soul; bubhuje — ruled.

TRANSLATION

After Kavi, Mahāvīra and Savana were completely trained in the paramahamsa stage of life, Mahārāja Priyavrata ruled the universe for eleven arbudas of years. Whenever he was determined to fix his arrow upon his bowstring with his two powerful arms, all opponents of the regulative principles of religious life would flee from his presence in fear of the unparalleled prowess he displayed in ruling the universe. He greatly loved his wife Barhishmatī, and with the increase of days, their exchange of nuptial love also increased. By her feminine behavior as she dressed herself, walked, got up, smiled, laughed, and glanced about, Queen Barhishmatī increased his energy. Thus although he was a great soul, he appeared lost in the feminine conduct of his wife. He behaved with her just like an ordinary man, but actually he was a great soul.

PURPORT

In this verse, the word dharma-pratipakshah ("opponents of religious principles") refers not to a particular faith, but to varnāśrama-dharma, the division of society, socially and spiritually, into four varnas (brāhmana, kshatriya, vaiśya and śūdra) and four āśramas (brahmacarya, grihastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa). To maintain proper social order and help the citizens gradually progress toward the goal of life — namely spiritual understanding — the principles of varnāśrama-dharma must be accepted. From this verse, Mahārāja Priyavrata appears to have been so strict in maintaining this institution of varnāśrama-dharma that anyone neglecting it would immediately flee from his presence as soon as the King warned him by fighting or administering light punishment. Indeed, Mahārāja Priyavrata would not have to fight, for simply because of his strong determination, they dared not disobey the rules and regulations of varnāśrama-dharma. It is said that unless human society is regulated by varnāśrama-dharma, it is no better than a bestial society of cats and dogs. Mahārāja Priyavrata, therefore, strictly maintained varnāśrama-dharma by his extraordinary, unparalleled prowess.

To maintain such a life of strict vigilance, one needs encouragement from his wife. In the varnāśrama-dharma system, certain classes, such as the brāhmanas and sannyāsīs, do not need encouragement from the opposite sex. Kshatriyas and grihasthas, however, actually need the encouragement of their wives in order to execute their duties. Indeed, a grihastha or kshatriya cannot properly execute his responsibilities without the association of his wife. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu personally admitted that a grihastha must live with a wife. Kshatriyas were even allowed to have many wives to encourage them in discharging the duties of government. The association of a good wife is necessary in a life of karma and political affairs. To execute his duties properly, therefore. Mahārāja Priyavrata took advantage of his good wife Barhishmatī, who was always very expert in pleasing her great husband by properly dressing herself, smiling, and exhibiting her feminine bodily features. Queen Barhishmatī always kept Mahārāja Priyavrata very encouraged, and thus he executed his governmental duty very properly. In this verse iva has twice been used to indicate that Mahārāja Priyavrata acted exactly like a henpecked husband and thereby seemed to have lost his sense of human responsibility. Actually, however, he was fully conscious of his position as a spirit soul, although he seemingly behaved like an acquiescent karmī husband. Mahārāja Priyavrata thus ruled the universe for eleven arbudas of years. One arbuda consists of 100,000,000 years, and Mahārāja Priyavrata ruled the universe for eleven such arbudas.

<<< >>>

Copyright ©r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness