Skandham-5. Chapter-1. Slokam-9&10.

Slokam-9.



Lord Brahmä, the father of Närada Muni, is the supreme person within this
universe. As soon as Närada saw the great swan, he could understand that Lord
Brahmä had arrived. Therefore he immediately stood up, along with
Sväyambhuva Manu and his son Priyavrata, whom Närada was instructing.
Then they folded their hands and began to worship Lord Brahmä with great
respect.


As stated in the previous verse, Lord Brahmä was accompanied by other
demigods, but his specific carrier was the great swan. Therefore as soon as
Närada Muni saw the swan, he could understand that his father, Lord Brahmä,
who is also known as Hiraëyagarbha, was arriving. Thus he immediately stood
up with Sväyambhuva Manu and his son Priyavrata to receive Lord Brahmä
and offer him respect.
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Slokam-10.


My dear King Parékñit, because Lord Brahmä had finally descended from
Satyaloka to Bhüloka, Närada Muni, Prince Priyavrata and Sväyambhuva
Manu came forward to offer him objects of worship and to praise him in highly
qualified language, according to Vedic etiquette. At that time, Lord Brahmä, the
original person of this universe, felt compassion for Priyavrata and, looking
upon him with a smiling face, spoke to him as follows.


That Lord Brahmä descended from Satyaloka to see Priyavrata indicates
that the matter was very serious. Närada Muni had come to advise Priyavrata
about the value of spiritual life, knowledge, renunciation and bhakti, and Lord
Brahmä knew that Närada's instructions were very impressive. Therefore
unless Lord Brahmä personally went to Gandhamädana Hill to request
Priyavrata, Lord Brahmä knew that prince Priyavrata would not accept his
father's order. Brahmä's purpose was to break Priyavrata's determination.
Therefore Brahmä first looked upon Priyavrata with compassion. His smile and
compassionate features also indicated that although Brahmä would request
Priyavrata to accept household life, Priyavrata would not be out of touch with
devotional service. By the blessings of a Vaiñëava, everything is possible. This
is described in Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu as kåpä-siddhi, or perfection attained
simply by the blessings of a superior person. One usually becomes liberated and
perfect by executing the regulative principles set down in the çästras.
Nonetheless, many persons have achieved perfection simply by the blessings of
a spiritual master or superior.



Priyavrata was the grandson of Lord Brahmä, and as joking competition
sometimes takes place between grandson and grandfather, in this case also
Priyavrata was determined to remain in meditation, whereas Brahmä was
determined that he rule the universe. Thus Lord Brahmä's affectionate smile
and glance meant, "My dear Priyavrata, you have decided not to accept
household life, but I have decided to convince you that you must accept it."
Actually, Brahmä had come to praise Priyavrata for his high standard of
renunciation, austerity, penance and devotion so that he would not be
deviated from devotional service, even though he would accept household life.



In this verse, one important word is sükta-väkena (by Vedic hymns). In the
Vedas, there is the following prayer to Lord Brahmä: hiraëyagarbhaù
samavartatägre bhütasya jätaù patir eka äsét. Brahmä was received with the
appropriate Vedic hymns, and because he was welcomed according to the
Vedic etiquette, he was very pleased.