Text 26] The Activities of Maharaja Priyavrata 49

etesam—of these; kavih—Kavi; mahdvirah—Mahavira; savanah—
Savana; iti—thus; trayah—three; dsan—were; urdhva-retasah—com-
pletely celibate; te—they; dtma-vidyayam—in transcendental
knowledge; arbha-bhavat—from childhood; adrabhya—beginning; krta-
paricayah—very well versed; pdramahamsyam—of the highest
spiritual perfection of human life; eva—certainly; asramam—the
order; abhajan—executed.

TRANSLATION

Three among these ten—namely Kavi, Mahavira and Savana—
lived in complete celibacy. Thus trained in brahmacari life from
the beginning of childhood, they were very conversant with the
highest perfection, known as the paramaharnsa-asrama.

PURPORT

The word ardhva-retasah in this verse is very significant. Urdhva-
retah refers to one who can control sex life and who instead of wasting
semen by discharging it, can use this most important substance ac-
cumulated in the body to enrich the brain. One who can completely con-
trol sex life is able to work wonderfully with his brain, especially in
remembering. Thus students who simply hear Vedic instructions once
from their teacher could remember them verbatim without needing to
read books, which therefore did not exist in former times.

Another significant word is arbha-bhdvat, which means “from very
childhood.”” Another meaning is “from being very affectionate to
children.” In other words, paramahamsa life is dedicated for the benefit
of others. Just as a father sacrifices many things out of affection for his
son, great saintly persons sacrifice all kinds of bodily comforts for the
benefit of human society. In this connection there is a verse concerning
the six Gosvamis:

tyaktva tirnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tucchavat

bhitva dina-ganesakau karunayé kaupina-kanthésritau
Because of their compassion for the poor fallen souls. the six Gosvamis
gave up their exalted positions as ministers and took vows as mendicants.
