974 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 23

anusargah—creation of material opulences; praja-patih—a protector of
citizens; jagatah— moving; tasthusah—not moving; ca—also; api—certainly;
urtti-dah—one who gives pensions; dharma-bhrt—one who observes the
religious principles; satam—of the devotees; nispadita—fully executed;
isvara—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; adesah—order; yat-artham
—in coordination with Him; tha—in this world; jajnivan—performed;
atma-jesu—unto his sons; atma-jam—the earth; nyasya—indicating; virahat—
out of separation; rudatim iva—just like lamenting; prajasu—unto the
citizens; vimanahsu— unto the aggrieved; ekah—alone; sa-darah—with his
wife; agat—went; tapah-vanam—in the forest where one can execute
austerities.

TRANSLATION

At the last stage of his life, when Maharaja Prthu saw himself getting
old, that great soul, who was King of the world, divided whatever opulence
he had accumulated amongst all kinds of living entities, moving and non-
moving. He arranged pensions for everyone according to religious prin-
ciples, and after executing the orders of the Supreme Personality of God-
head, in complete coordination with Him, he dedicated his sons unto the
earth, which was considered to be his daughter. Then Maharaja Prthu
left the presence of his citizens, who were almost lamenting and crying
from feeling separation from the King, and went to the forest alone with
his wife to perform austerities.

PURPORT

Maharaja Prthu was one of the saktyavesa incarnations of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and as such he appeared on the surface of the
earth to execute the orders of the Supreme. As stated in Bhagavad-gita,
the Supreme Lord is the proprietor of all planets, and He is always anxious
to see that in each and every planet the living entities are happily living
and executing their duties. As soon as there is some discrepancy in the
execution of duties, the Lord appears on earth, as confirmed in Bhagavad-
gitd: yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata (Bg. 4.7).

Since there were so many discrepancies during the reign of King Vena,
the Lord sent His most confidential devotee, Maharaja Prthu, to settle
things. Therefore, after executing the orders of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead and settling the affairs of the world, Maharaja Prthu was ready
to retire. He had been exemplary in his governmental administration, and
now he was to become exemplary in his retirement. He divided all his
