Chapter Eight
Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest
TEXT 62
ity uktas taṁ parikramya
praṇamya ca nṛpārbhakaḥ
yayau madhuvanaṁ puṇyaṁ
hareś caraṇa-carcitam
SYNONYMS
iti—thus; uktaḥ—being spoken; tam—him (Nārada Muni); parikramya—by circumambulating; praṇamya—by offering obeisances; ca—also; nṛpa-arbhakaḥ—the boy of the King; yayau—went to; madhuvanam—a forest in Vṛndāvana known as Madhuvana; puṇyam—which is auspicious and pious; hareḥ—of the Lord; caraṇa-carcitam—imprinted by the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
TRANSLATION
When Dhruva Mahārāja, the son of the King, was thus advised by the great sage Nārada, he circumambulated Nārada, his spiritual master, and offered him respectful obeisances. Then he started for Madhuvana, which is always imprinted with the lotus footprints of Lord Kṛṣṇa and which is therefore especially auspicious.
TEXT 63
tapo-vanaṁ gate tasmin
praviṣṭo ’ntaḥ-puraṁ muniḥ
arhitārhaṇako rājñā
sukhāsīna uvāca tam
SYNONYMS
tapaḥ-vanam—the forest path where Dhruva Mahārāja executed his austerity; gate—having thus approached; tasmin—there; praviṣṭaḥ—having entered; antaḥ-puram—within the private house; muniḥ—the great sage Nārada; arhita—being worshiped; arhaṇakaḥ—by respectful behavior; rājñā—by the King; sukha-āsīnaḥ—when he comfortably sat on his seat; uvāca—said; tam—unto him (the King).
TRANSLATION
After Dhruva entered Madhuvana Forest to execute devotional service, the great sage Nārada thought it wise to go to the King to see how he was faring within the palace. When Nārada Muni approached, the King received him properly, offering him due obeisances. After being seated comfortably, Nārada began to speak.
TEXT 64
nārada uvāca
rājan kiṁ dhyāyase dīrghaṁ
mukhena pariśuṣyatā
kiṁ vā na riṣyate kāmo
dharmo vārthena saṁyutaḥ
SYNONYMS
nāradaḥ uvāca—the great sage Nārada Muni said; rājan—my dear King; kim—what; dhyāyase—thinking of; dīrgham—very deeply; mukhena—with your face; pariśuṣyatā—as if drying up; kim vā—whether; na—not; riṣyate—been lost; kāmaḥ—sense gratification; dharmaḥ—religious rituals; vā—or; arthena—with economic development; saṁyutaḥ—along with.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Nārada inquired: My dear King, your face appears to be withering up, and you look like you have been thinking of something for a very long time. Why is that? Have you been hampered in following your path of religious rites, economic development and sense gratification?
PURPORT
The four stages of advancement of human civilisation are religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, for some, the stage of liberation. Nārada Muni did not inquire from the King about his liberation, but only regarding the state management, which is meant for advancement of the three principles religiosity, economic development and sense gratification. Since those who engage in such activities are not interested in liberation, Nārada did not inquire from the King about this. Liberation is meant for persons who have lost all interest in religious ritualistic ceremonies, economic development and sense gratification.
TEXT 65
rājovāca
suto me bālako brahman
straiṇenākaruṇātmanā
nirvāsitaḥ pañca-varṣaḥ
saha mātrā mahān kaviḥ
SYNONYMS
rājā uvāca—the King replied; sutaḥ—son; me—my; bālakaḥ—tender boy; brahman—my dear brāhmaṇa; straiṇena—one who is too addicted to his wife; akaruṇā-ātmanā—one who is very hard of heart and without mercy; nirvāsitaḥ—is banished; pañca-varṣaḥ—although the boy is five years old; saha—with; mātrā—mother; mahān—great personality; kaviḥ—devotee.
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