1014 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 23

kirtitam tasya caritam
uddama-caritasya te

itthambhuta—thus; anubhavah—very great, powerful; asau—that;
prthuh—King Prthu; sah—he; bhagavattamah—the best among the lords;
kirtitam—described; tasya—his; caritam—character; uddama—very great;
caritasya—one who possesses such qualities; fe—to you.

TRANSLATION

Maitreya continued: The greatest of all devotees, Maharaja Prthu, was
very powerful, and his character was liberal, magnificent and magnanimous.
Thus I have described him to you as far as possible.

PURPORT

In this verse the word bhagavattamah is very significant, for the word
bhagavat is used especially to refer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
as the word bhagavan (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) is derived
from the word bhagavat. Sometimes, however, we see that the word
bhagavan is used for great personalities like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva
and Narada Muni. This is the case with Prthu Maharaja, who is described
here as the best of the bhagavans, or the best of the lords. A person can be
so addressed only if he is a great personality who exhibits extraordinary
and uncommon features, or who attains the greatest goal after his dis-
appearance, or who knows the difference between knowledge and igno-
rance. In other words, the word bhagavan should not be used for ordinary
persons.

TEXT 31

TK ges wawafed: iq |
AAA TTTMANT F Ta TA AT 138

ya idam su-mahat punyam
Sraddhayavahitah pathet
Sravayec chrnuyad vapi
sa prthoh padavim iyat

yah—anyone; idam—this; su-mahat—very great; punyam—pious;
sraddhaya—with great faith; avahitah—with great attention; pathet—
reads; sravayet—explains; srnuyat—hears; va—or; api—certainly; sah—that
person; prthoh—of King Prthu; padavim—situation; tyat—attains.
