Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 5 Chapter 1:1-10

Book 5: Chapter 1

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 5: Chapter 1: Verses 1-10 The story of Priyavrata The king (Pariksit) said: Priyavrata was a (great) devotee of the Lord and revelled in the Self. How did he, O sage, rejoice in family life, which obscures one's true nature and subjects one to the bondage of actions ? Certainly it is not desirable, O chief of the Brahmanas, that people like him, who are free from attachment, should get identified with their home in this way. Indeed, O Brahmana sage, exalted souls whose mind has found peace in the (cool) shade of the feet of Sri Hari (enjoying excellent renown)cannot conceive a fond attachment to their family. I have this great doubt in my mind, O holy Brahmana, as to how Priyavrata, who was attached to his wife, house, children and so on, attained perfection and (what is still more difficult) come to develop unswerving devotion to Lord Sri Krsna. Sri Suka said : What you have stated is (quite) right. They, however, whose mind is engrossed in enjoying the (sweet) honey of the charming feet of Lord Sri Hari (of exalted fame) do not generally give up their most blessed path (habit) of listening to the narrative of the Lord, who is the beloved of His devotees and ascetics of the highest order, even though it may be (temporarily) obstructed by some impediments. And it is a well-known fact, O king, that when that prince Priyavrata-who was a supreme devotee of the Lord and had through the adoration of Narada's feet easily come to know the true nature of the highest Reality, and was about to undertake a vow of (lifelong)contemplation on the Spirit-was called upon by his father (Swayambhuva Manu) to rule over the earth because of his being a unique repository of hosts of excellent virtues mentioned in the scriptures, he did not welcome it, although the command (of his father) was inviolable; for he had through constant absorption of his mind in Lord Vasudeva completely resigned all the activities of his senses and organs of action to Him and he thought that on his assuming the reins of government (the true nature of) his self would be obscured by (contact with) the non-self, even though the latter has no reality. Thereupon the glorious Brahma (the self-born), the first among the gods-who kept himself acquainted with the designs of all the worlds, being ever engaged in the thought of promoting the creation, which is a product of the three Gunas (modes of Prakrti)-came down (to the earth) from his abode (the Brahmaloka), surrounded by all the (four) Vedas (in visible form) and his retinue (consisting of the sage Marici and others). Shining like the moon and being worshipped at many points on his way through the heavens by the foremost among the gods, who rode in their aerial cars, and glorified along the route in separate groups by troops of Siddhas (a class of heavenly beings endowed with supernatural powers from their very birth), Gandharvas (celestial songsters), Sadhyas (another class of celestial beings), Cararnas (celestial bards) and sages, he approached the prince, illumining the (entire) valley of Mount Gandhamadana (by his brilliance). Recognizing there from his mount, a swan, that he was no other than his father, the glorious Brahma, Narada (the celestial sage) quickly rose and waited upon him with articles of worship along with the father (Swayambhuva Manu) and son (Priyavrata), his palms joined (in prayer). The glorious Brahma too, the first among embodied beings, who was offered (many an article of) worship (by Narada) and whose hosts of virtues, coming down to the earth (to bless his devotees), and excellent glories were sung in appropriate words, spoke as follows to Priyavrata, casting at him a smiling look full of compassion indeed.