Text 6] Prthu Maharaja’s Meeting with the Four Kumaras 891

tat-pada-sauca-salilair
marjitalaka-bandhanah

tatra stlavatam urttam
acaran manayann iva

tat-pada—their lotus feet; sawca—washed; salilaih—water; marjita—
sprinkled; alaka—hair; bandhanah—bunch; tatra—there; silavatam—of the
respectable gentlemen; vrttam—behavior; dcaran—behaving; manayan—
practicing; iva—like.

TRANSLATION

After this, the King took the water which had washed the lotus feet of
the Kumaras and sprinkled it over his hair. By such respectful actions, the
King, as an exemplary personality, showed how to receive a spiritually
advanced personality.

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, apani acari prabhu jivere sikhaya. It
is very well known that whatever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught in His
life as acarya, He Himself practiced. When He was preaching as a devotee,
although He was detected by several great personalities to be the incarnation
of Krsna, He never agreed to be addressed as an incarnation. Even though
one may be an incarnation of Krsna, or especially empowered by Him, he
should not advertise that he is an incarnation. People will automatically
accept the real truth in due course of time. Prthu Maharaja was the ideal
Vaisnava king; therefore he taught others by his personal behavior how to
receive and respect saintly persons like the Kumaras. When a saintly person
comes to one’s home, it is the Vedic custom to wash his feet first with water
and then sprinkle this water over the heads of oneself and his family. Prthu
Maharaja did this, for he was an exemplary teacher of the people in general.

TEXT 6

TBA Sa APTA TART |
qaqa: Ma: WE AAGRAFL II § II

hatakasana asinan
sva-dhisnyesv iva pavakan

Sraddha-samyama-samyuktah
pritah praha bhavagrajan

hataka-asane—on the throne made of gold; asinan—when they were
seated; sva-dhisnyesu—on the altar; iva—like; pavakan— the fire; sraddha—
