8 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 1

TRANSLATION

O best of the Kurus, I have already described [in the Third
Canto] the activities of Kapila, the son of Devahiati. Now I shall de-
scribe the activities of Yajmapati, the son of Akiti.

TEXT 7
fain: seeag aaewafa: 7a: |
asa Usd TI aaa TAATTAT Ul 9 UI

viraktah kima-bhogesu
Satariipa-patih prabhuh

visrjya rajyam tapase
sabharyo vanam dvisat

viraktah—without attachment; kdma-bhogesu—in sense gratification
(in grhastha life); Satariipa-patih—the husband of Sataripa, namely
Svayambhuva Manu; prabhuh—who was the master or king of the
world; visrjya—after renouncing totally; rajyam—his kingdom;
tapase —for practicing austerities; sa-bhadryah —with his wife; vanam—
the forest; dvisat—entered.

TRANSLATION

Svayambhuva Manu, the husband of Satarapa, was by nature not
at all attached to enjoyment of the senses. Thus he gave up his
kingdom of sense enjoyment and entered the forest with his wife
to practice austerities.

PURPORT

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.2), evarn parampard-praéptam imarh
rajarsayo viduh: ““The supreme science was thus received through the
chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that
way.” All the Manus were perfect kings. They were rdjarsis. In other
words, although they held posts as kings of the world, they were as good
as great saints. Svayambhuva Manu, for example, was the emperor of the
world, yet he had no desire for sense gratification. This is the meaning of
monarchy. The king of the country or the emperor of the empire must be
so trained that by nature he renounces sense gratification. It is not that
