40 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 1

worlds, Priyavrata, his own position being inferior, offered obei-
sances, accepted the order and carried it out with great respect.

PURPORT

Sri Priyavrata was the grandson of Lord Brahma. Therefore according
to social etiquette, his position was inferior. It is the duty of the inferior
to carry out the order of the superior with great respect. Priyavrata
therefore immediately said, “Yes, sir. I shall carry out your order.”
Priyavrata is described as a maha-bhagavata, a great devotee. The duty
of a great devotee is to carry out the order of the spiritual master, or the
spiritual master of the spiritual master in the parampara system. As de-
scribed in Bhagavad-gita (4.2), evarh parampara praptam: one has to
receive the instructions of the Supreme Lord through the disciplic chain
of spiritual masters. A devotee of the Lord always considers himself a
servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord.

TEXT 21

ama aaa awagraeraafata: Brrr aTaTAR-
AA AANPANTAaAAaTAAA Saad ATAAINT AATTATAT 112211

bhagavan api manuna yathdavad upakalpitapacitih priyavrata-
naradayor avisamam abhisamiksamanayor dtmasam avasthanam avan-
manasam ksayam avyavahrtam pravartayann agamat.

bhagavan—the most powerful Lord Brahma; api—also; manuna—by
Manu; yathadvat—as deserved; upakalpita-apacitih—being worshiped;
priyavrata-naradayoh—in the presence of Priyavrata and Narada;
avisamam—without aversion; abhisamiksamanayoh—looking on; at-
masam—just suitable for his position; avasthanam—to his abode; a-
vak-manasam—beyond the description of mind and words; ksayam—
the planet; avyavahrtam—extraordinarily situated; pravartayan—
departing; agamat—returned.

TRANSLATION

Lord Brahma was then worshiped by Manu, who respectfully
satisfied him as well as he could. Priyavrata and Narada also looked
