Text 4]
Mahārāja Pṛthu's Going Back Home
975
property amongst his sons and appointed them to rule the world, and then he went to the forest with his wife. It is significant in this connection that it is said that Mahārāja Pṛthu retired alone and at the same time took his wife with him. According to Vedic principles, when retiring from family life, one can take his wife with him, for the husband and wife are considered to be one unit. Thus they can both combinedly perform austerities for liberation. This is the path that Mahārāja Pṛthu, who was an exemplary character, followed, and this is also the way of Vedic civilization. One should not simply remain at home until the time of death but should separate from family life at a timely moment and prepare himself to go back to Godhead. As a  śaktyāveśa  incarnation of God who had actually come from Vaikuṇṭha as a representative of Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja Pṛthu was certain to go back to Godhead. Nonetheless in order to set the example in all ways, he also underwent severe austerities in the  tapo-vana . It appears that in those days there were many  tapo-vanas , or forests especially meant for retirement and the practice of austerities. Indeed, it was compulsory for everyone to go to the  tapo-vana  to fully accept the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for it is very difficult to retire from family life and at the same time remain at home.
TEXT 4
तत्राभ्यदाभ्यनियमो वैखानससुसम्मते । आरब्ध उग्रतपसि यथा स्वविजये पुरा ॥ ४ ॥
tatrāpy adābhya-niyamo vaikhānasa-susammate ārabdha ugra-tapasi yathā sva-vijaye purā
tatra—there; api—also; adābhya—severe; niyamaḥ—austerities; vaikhā-nasa—rules and regulations of retired life; susammate—perfectly recognized; ārabdhaḥ—beginning; ugra—severe; tapasi—austerity; yathā—as much as; sva-vijaye—in conquering the world; purā—formerly.
TRANSLATION
After retiring from family life, Mahārāja Pṛthu strictly followed the regulations of retired life and underwent severe austerities in the forest. He engaged in these activities as seriously as he had formerly engaged in leading the government and conquering everyone.