Text 2] King Yayati Regains His Youth 15
rayyam—the kingdom; na aicchat—did not accept; yatih—the eldest
son, Yati; pitra—by his father; dattam—offered; tat-parindma-vit—
knowing the result of becoming powerful as a king; yatra—wherein;
pravistah—having entered; purusah—such a person; dtmanam—self-
realization; na—not; avabudhyate—will take seriously and understand.
TRANSLATION
When one enters the post of king or head of the government,
one cannot understand the meaning of self-realization. Knowing
this, Yati, the eldest son of Nahusa, did not accept the power to
rule, although it was offered by his father.
PURPORT
Self-realization is the prime objective of human civilization, and it is
regarded seriously by those who are situated in the mode of goodness and
have developed the brahminical qualities. Ksatriyas are generally en-
dowed with material qualities conducive to gaining material wealth and
enjoying sense gratification, but those who are spiritually advanced are
not interested in material opulence. Indeed, they accept only the bare
necessities for a life of spiritual advancement in self-realization. It is
specifically mentioned here that if one enters political life, especially in
the modern day, one looses the chance for human perfection. Nonethe-
less, one can attain the highest perfection if one hears Srimad-
Bhagavatam. This hearing is described as nityam bhdgavata-sevayd.
Maharaja Pariksit was involved in politics, but because at the end of his
life he heard Srimad-Bhagavatam from Sukadeva Gosvami, he attained
perfection very easily. Sri Caitanya Mahdprabhu has _ therefore
suggested:
sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-varn-manobhir
ye prayaso jita jito py asi tais tri-lokyam
(Bhag. 10.14.3)
Regardless of whether one is in the mode of passion, ignorance or good-
ness, if one regularly hears Srimad-Bhagavatam from the self-realized
soul, one is freed from the bondage of material involvement.
