Canto & Chapters
The Creative Impetus (26 Chapters)
Chapter 141v
The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata
Chapter 223v
The Activities of Mahārāja Āgnīdhra
Chapter 319v
Ṛṣabhadeva’s Appearance in the Womb of Merudevī, the Wife of King Nābhi
Chapter 418v
The Characteristics of Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Chapter 531v
Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s Teachings to His Sons
Chapter 619v
The Activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva
Chapter 714v
The Activities of King Bharata
Chapter 831v
A Description of the Character of Bharata Mahārāja
Chapter 918v
The Supreme Character of Jaḍa Bharata
Chapter 1025v
The Discussion Between Jaḍa Bharata and Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa
Chapter 1116v
Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
Chapter 1215v
Conversation Between Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata
Chapter 1326v
Further Talks Between King Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata
Chapter 1446v
The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment
Chapter 1515v
The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata
Chapter 1627v
A Description of Jambūdvīpa
Chapter 1723v
The Descent of the River Ganges
Chapter 1839v
The Prayers Offered to the Lord by the Residents of Jambūdvīpa
Chapter 1929v
A Description of the Island of Jambūdvīpa
Chapter 2045v
Studying the Structure of the Universe
Chapter 2118v
The Movements of the Sun
Chapter 2217v
The Orbits of the Planets
Chapter 239v
The Śiśumāra Planetary Systems
Chapter 2431v
The Subterranean Heavenly Planets
Chapter 2515v
The Glories of Lord Ananta
Chapter 2640v
A Description of the Hellish Planets
Canto 5, Chapter 1

The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata

Verse 20 (SB 5.1.20)
SB 5.1.20 • मूल श्लोक

श्रीशुक उवाच इति समभिहितो महाभागवतो भगवतस्त्रिभुवनगुरोरनुशासनमात्मनो लघुतयावनतशिरोधरो बाढमिति सबहुमानमुवाह ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti samabhihito mahā-bhāgavato bhagavatas tri-bhuvana-guror anuśāsanam ātmano laghutayāvanata-śirodharo bāḍham iti sabahu-mānam uvāha.

Synonyms (Word-for-Word)

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; samabhihitaḥ — completely instructed; mahā-bhāgavataḥ — the great devotee; bhagavataḥ — of the most powerful Lord Brahmā; tri-bhuvana — of the three worlds; guroḥ — the spiritual master; anuśāsanam — the order; ātmanaḥ — of himself; laghutayā — because of inferiority; avanata — bowed down; śirodharaḥ — his head; bāḍham — yes, sir; iti — thus; sa-bahu-mānam — with great respect; uvāha — carried out.

Translation

“Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After thus being fully instructed by Lord Brahmā, who is the spiritual master of the three worlds, Priyavrata, his own position being inferior, offered obeisances, accepted the order and carried it out with great respect.”

Bhaktivedanta Purport

By Śrīla Prabhupāda
Śrī Priyavrata was the grandson of Lord Brahmā. 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 mahā-bhāgavata, 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 paramparā system. As described in Bhagavad-gītā (4.2), evaṁ paramparā prāptam: 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.