The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

Bharata’s descendants are described, including the saintly King Gaya and his devotion to Lord Viṣṇu.

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Themes of SB 5.15Jñāna5 Bhakti2 from its story phase

Connected storiesMahārāja PriyavrataDakṣaLord ṚṣabhadevaMahārāja Pṛthu

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

In this chapter the descendants of Bharata Mahārāja and many other kings are described. The son of Mahārāja Bharata was named Sumati. He followed the path of liberation given by Ṛṣabhadeva. Some people mistakenly thought Sumati to be the direct incarnation of Lord Buddha. The son of Sumati was Devatājit, and his son was Devadyumna. Devadyumna’s son was Parameṣṭhī, and his son was Pratīha. Pratīha was a very great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, and he had three sons, named Pratihartā, Prastotā and Udgātā. Pratihartā had two sons, Aja and Bhūmā. The son of Bhūmā was Udgītha, and the son of Udgītha was Prastāva. The son of Prastāva was Vibhu, and the son of Vibhu was Pṛthuṣeṇa, whose son was Nakta. The wife of Nakta, Druti, gave birth to Gaya, who was a very famous and saintly king. Actually King Gaya was a partial incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, and because of his great devotion to Lord Viṣṇu he received the title Mahāpuruṣa. King Gaya had sons named Citraratha, Sumati and Avarodhana. The son of Citraratha was the emperor Samrāṭ, and his son was Marīci, whose son was Bindu. Bindu’s son was Madhu, and Madhu’s son was Vīravrata. Vīravrata’s two sons were Manthu and Pramanthu, and the son of Manthu was Bhauvana. The son of Bhauvana was Tvaṣṭā, and the son of Tvaṣṭā was Viraja, who glorified the whole dynasty. Viraja had one hundred sons and one daughter. Of these, the son named Śatajit became very famous.

In this chapter

Who · King Gaya and the descendants of Bharata Mahārāja

The story · Śukadeva Gosvāmī traced Bharata Mahārāja’s descendants, beginning with Sumati, who followed Ṛṣabhadeva’s path of liberation. In this dynasty appeared King Gaya, a famous saintly ruler and partial incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu. His great devotion to Viṣṇu earned him the title Mahāpuruṣa. Although he had no personal desire for sense gratification, his desires were fulfilled through Vedic rituals, and even the kings who fought him were satisfied by his adherence to religious principles.

What it teaches · When the Supreme Lord is pleased by a person’s actions, all living entities are automatically pleased. King Gaya’s life shows devotion joined with religious rule and freedom from personal sense gratification.

SB 5.15.8 SB 5.15.11 SB 5.15.13 Read chapter 15 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Mahārāja Priyavrata

SB 5.1 · Priyavrata accepts the kingdom

What it teaches · Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that devotional service is transcendental to material influences. A devotee who takes shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet can overcome material distress and conquer the mind and senses.

“Because of his high qualities and wide fame, King Viraja became the jewel of the dynasty of King Priyavrata, just as Lord Viṣṇu, by His transcendental potency, decorates and blesses the demigods.”
In the verse · SB 5.15.16 (Text 16)

Because of King Viraja’s appearance, the family of Mahārāja Priyavrata has remained famous for all time.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 5.15.16 (Text 16)

Read the story in SB 5.1

Dakṣa

SB 4.2–4 · Satī confronts Dakṣa’s envy SB 4.5–7 · Dakṣa’s sacrifice is restored SB 6.4 · Dakṣa’s prayers to the Lord

What it teaches · Lord Śiva explains that false ego produces envy of self-realized persons. Satī identifies envy of Lord Śiva, who is free from enmity, as a grave offense.

All the chaste and honest daughters of Mahārāja Dakṣa, such as Śraddhā, Maitrī and Dayā, whose blessings were always effective, bathed Mahārāja Gaya with sanctified water.
In the verse · SB 5.15.10 (Text 10)

This was possible because he was bathed in sanctified water by the honest daughters of Dakṣa.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 5.15.10 (Text 10)

Read the story in SB 4.2–4

Lord Ṛṣabhadeva

SB 5.3–4 · The Lord becomes Nābhi’s son SB 5.5–6 · Ṛṣabhadeva teaches by words and example

What it teaches · The Supreme Personality of Godhead is without an equal and is merciful to His devotees. The priests approached Him as eternal servants, asking Him to accept their service.

Imitating the behavior of Sumati, they also claim to be descendants of Ṛṣabhadeva.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 5.15.1 (Text 1)

The son of Mahārāja Bharata known as Sumati followed the path of Ṛṣabhadeva, but in the Age of Kali some unscrupulous people will imagine him to be Lord Buddha himself.
In the verse · SB 5.15.1 (Text 1)

Read the story in SB 5.3–4

Mahārāja Pṛthu

SB 4.15–18 · Pṛthu provides for his citizens SB 4.19–20 · Pṛthu’s sacrifice and prayers SB 4.21–23 · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service

What it teaches · Pṛthu’s example joins humility with practical care for others. A king should act like an affectionate father, providing for his citizens.

Those who are ruling the world at the present moment should take lessons from King Gaya, King Yudhiṣṭhira and King Pṛthu and rule the citizens so that they will be happy.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 5.15.8 (Text 8)

Read the story in SB 4.15–18

Next in Learn · 4 of 11 · 5 minStudy a verseOne verse with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and three study points from the purport.Back · LearnPreface & Introduction