970 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22

brhaspatih—the priest of the heavenly planets; brahma-vade—in the
matter of spiritual understanding; atmavattve—in the matter of self-
control; svayam—personally; harth—the Supreme Personality of Godhead;
bhaktya—in devotion; go—cow; guru—spiritual master; vipresu—unto the
brahmanas; visvaksena—the Personality of Godhead; anuvartisu—followers;
hriya—by shyness; prasraya-silabhyam—by most gentle behavior; atma-
tulyah—exactly like his personal interest; para-udyame—in the matter of
philanthropic work.

TRANSLATION

In his personal behavior, Prthu Maharaja exhibited all good qualities,
and in spiritual knowledge he was exactly like Brhaspati. In self-control he
was like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. As far as his de-
votional service was concerned, he was a great follower of devotees who
were attached to cow protection and the rendering of all service to the
spiritual master and the brahmanas. He was perfect in his shyness and in
his gentle behavior, and when he engaged in some philanthropic activity,
he worked as if he were working for his own personal self.

PURPORT

When Lord Caitanya talked to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the Lord
gave him the honor of becoming the incarnation of Brhaspati. Brhaspati is
the chief priest of the heavenly kingdom, and he is a follower of the
philosophy known as Brahmavada or Mayavada. Brhaspati is also a great
logician. It appears from this statement that Maharaja Prthu, although a
great devotee constantly engaged in the loving service of the Lord, could
defeat all kinds of impersonalists and Mayavadis by his profound knowledge
of Vedic scriptures. We should learn from Maharaja Prthu that a Vaisnava
or devotee must not only be fixed in the service of the Lord, but, if
required, must be prepared to argue with the impersonalist Mayavadis with
all logic and philosophy and defeat their contention that the Absolute
Truth is impersonal.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ideal self-controller or
brahmacari. When Krsna was elected to be president of the Rajasiya
yajiia performed by Maharaja Yudhisthira, Grandfather Bhismadeva praised
Lord Krsna as the greatest brahmacart. Because Grandfather Bhismadeva
was a brahmacari, he was quite fit to distinguish a brahmacari from a
vyabhican. Although Prthu Maharaja was a householder and father of five
children, he was still considered to be most controlled. One who begets
Krsna conscious children for the benefit of humanity is actually a brahma-
