Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.23.33

triḥ kṛtva idam ākarṇya

naro nāry athavādṛtā

aprajaḥ suprajatamo

nirdhano dhanavattamaḥ

SYNONYMS

triḥ — thrice; kṛtvaḥ — repeating; idam — this; ākarṇya — hearing; naraḥ — man; nārī — woman; athavā — or; ādṛtā — in great respect; aprajaḥ — one who has no children; su-praja-tamaḥ — surrounded by many children; nirdhanaḥ — without any money; dhana-vat — rich; tamaḥ — the greatest.

TRANSLATION

It does not matter whether one is a man or woman. Anyone who, with great respect, hears this narration of Mahārāja Pṛthu will become the father of many children if he is without children and will become the richest of men if he is without money.

PURPORT

Materialistic persons who are very fond of money and great families worship different demigods to attain their desires, especially goddess Durgā, Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā. Such materialistic persons are called śriyaiśvarya-prajepsavaḥ. Śrī means "beauty," aiśvarya means "riches," prajā means "children," and īpsavaḥ means "desiring." As described in the Second Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one has to worship various demigods for different types of benedictions. However, here it is indicated that simply by hearing of the life and character of Mahārāja Pṛthu, one can have both riches and children in enormous quantities. One simply has to read and understand the history, the life and activities of Pṛthu Mahārāja. It is advised that one read them at least three times. Those who are materially afflicted will so benefit by hearing of the Supreme Lord and His devotees that they need not go to any demigod. The word suprajatamaḥ ("surrounded by many children") is very significant in this verse, for one may have many children but may not have any qualified children. Here, however, it is stated (su-prajatamaḥ) that all the children thus attained would be qualified in education, wealth, beauty and strength — everything complete.

<<< >>>

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