Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 5 Chapter 1:20-29

Book 5: Chapter 1

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 5: Chapter 1: Verses 20-29 The story of Priyavrata Sri Suka continued: Thus instructed, Priyavrata (that eminent devotee of the Lord) most respectfully accepted the command of the glorious Brahma (the preceptor of the three worlds) with the words "Very well!," his head bent low as a token of his smallness (humility). The glorious Brahma too, who was duly honoured by Manu, left for his abode (the Brahmaloka), contemplating on his own asylum (the supreme Brahma) - who is beyond the ken of speech and mind and is incapable of being dealt with-while Priyavrata and Narada kept gazing on him with srene look. Manu too, whose ambition (of bequeathing the kingship to his son and retiring to woods for meditation and worship) was thus fulfilled by Brahma (the highest of the gods), appointed Priyavrata (his son) with concurrence of Narada (the foremost of celestial sages) to maintain stability of rule on the terrestrial globe and himself gave up the desire of enjoying home life, which is like a most fearful lake full of poisonous water in the shape of sesuous pleasures. Thus appointed by God's will to do work, the emperor (Priyavrata), whose impurities of mind had been burnt, nay, who had become (extremely) pure by virtue of constant meditation on the feet of the Lord, the most acient Person-whose supreme glory is capable of destroying the bondage of the entire creation-ruled over the earth just in order to show his great regard for the exalted (by obeying their command). He then married a daughter, named Barhismati, of Viswakarma (the architect of the gods), a lord of created beings; and how wonderful that through her he actually begot ten sons- who were evidently as great as he in amiability, virtues, actions, comeliness of form and prowess-as well as a daughter, Urjaswati by name, who was younger than all of them. they all bore the names of the fire-god, viz., Agnidhra, ldhamajihva, Yajnabahu, Mahavira, Hiranyareta Ghrtaprstha, Savana, Medhatithi, Vitihotra and Kavi. Three of these-kavi, Mahavira and Savana-were lifelong celibates; they took to a study of the science of Self-Knowledge from their very infancy and (eventually) entered the order of recluses. Continuing in that Asrama (stage of life) and given to (perfect) self-control, these forem,ost seers indeed wonderfully attained absolute self-identity with the Lord, who is the very Self, nay, the inner Controller of all living beings and whom they realized within the heart, purified by virtue of their uninterrupted and supreme Devotion resulting from their ceaseless remembrance of the charming lotus-like feet of Bhagavan Vasudeva, the abode of all species of living beingsand the asylum of the fear-stricken. By another wife too he had three sons-Uttama, Tamasa and Raivata, each of whom presided over a Manvantara (associated with his name). (Three of) his sons being thus given to self-control, the high-minded emperor (Priyavrata) ruled over the globe for 1,10,00,00,000 years. (During his reign) the enemies of righteousness were scared away by the very twang of the bow-string pulled by his stout arms, possessed of (inordinate) strength, which consummated all his efforts without any obstruction. Nay, like a man who has forgotten his self, he had his judgment clouded as it were by Barhismati's daily growing expressions of excessive joy (on his visiting her), her rising from the seat and going forth to meet him, amatory gestures natural to women, smiles and glances half-concealed by bashfulness and delightful jokes etc.