Brihad Vrata to Priyavrata

The vedic texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata is replete with the examples of virtuous kings, princess, queens, servants, officials who sacrificed their self-paced comfortable life for the sake of superiors satisfaction.

Lakshman who left the comfort of palace life for Lord Ramachandra Thrice in his life time.

Sita left the comfort of palace life and for Lord Rama twice.

Pandavas left the comfort of palace life for the sake of Dharma several times.

But there is unique example of some great soul who left the comfort of woods life and accepted the comfort of Palace life for the satisfaction of Supreme Lord and the superiors.

Yes I am talking about the life of King Priyavrata, Who was the elder son of the emperor swayambhuva manu (the father of the mankind).

Priyavrata Maharaja being elder was supposed to become the king but left kingdom and went to woods in the guidance of the great ascetic and preacher of Bhakti Yoga sage Narada muni. Priyavrata was completely satisfied practicing mystic yoga of the greatest runge.

But at the lower level of Spiritual emancipation into the day to day practical situation of the world things were not going so well. The Dynasty of the kings which was coming down from Manu through Uttanapada to Pracetas and then to Daksha (reborn) was about to get completely stopped. There was no good responsible king to rule the Bhumandal. So the Super King Swayambhuva Manu approaches to Priyavrata Mahraja to take up the governmental responsibilities.

Healthy fear for loosing Krishna consciousness is fine :-

When Swayambhuva Manu asked to Priyavrata to take up the services as king, he could not welcome the proposal na eva abhyanandat considering the family life with so much of governmental responsibilities and material opulence may bind him more and become the obstruction in his discharging unbreaking devotional service. Priyavrata was very happy engaging completely into devotional service of Lord Sri Krishna in the mountains of Gandhamdana.

Exercise authority with caution with your near and dear ones.

Swayambhuva manu could perceive Priyavrata’s unwillingness in accepting the service of ruling the world and to do so to enter into a household life, But he did not move ahead to press upon it upon his own son Priyavrata. This is the the way great leaders could smell the nerve of their subordinate and give protect the good relationship for the development of services ahead. Swayambhuva Manu went ahead to Lord Brahma, his father to get help.

Request should be done with compassion concern and empathy with the person requested.

As Lord Brahma descends to the earthly plane at the vicinity of mountain Gandhamadan, he was prayed and worshipped by all the celestial beings. When Lord Brahma approached the hermitage of Priyavrata who was being instructed by Sage Narada, his eyes was filled with compassion for Priyavrata. It was the Compassion(sadayahasa avaloka) for the apparently difficult and fearful situation of the Priyavrata Maharaja, that now he is apprehensive towards the household life fearing that the upcoming life of household life would obstruct his Krishna consciousness.

Request should be done with referece of the higher authority

As Lord Brahma was up to convincing Priyavrata to accept the household life to rule the entire Bhumandal, Lord Brahma refers to the Lord Krishna. He requests Priyavrata that it is the desire of the Supreme Lord that you accept this responsibility. Practically no one is free from the order and system of Varnashrama set by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One cannot defy the order of the Lord by vedic education, a lot of austerity, mystic yoga, physical prowess, intellectual abilities power of religion, material opulence or by exercising others power. Even I (Brahma) himself cannot defy the orders of Supreme Lord.

Accepting the authority without any resentment.

Lord Brahma being the Supreme entity of the Universe could fairly convince Priyavrata with the agreement with his mentor Narada muni to take up the household life and the responsibilities of ruling the earthly realm called Bhumandala.

Being inferior in position Priyavrata accepted the order and never harbour any resentment towards either Swayambhuva Manu or towards Lord Brahma. This is something very special traits of the kind of devotees like that of Narada and Priyavrata. Even though Priyavrata had other opinion but he complied with the opinion of superiors accepting them to be the Supreme will of Krishna.

Spiritual and material empowerments are the functions of Blessings of Superiors.

Because Priyavrata accepted the proposal of his Superiors he also got the blessings to always think about the lotus feet of Krishna. He ruled the Bhumandala just to honour the order of his superiors. He became so powerful in the material terms that he became the second sun (dvitiya iva patangah) radiating the light to the sections of the universe where there was less light because of Sun’s movement towards other side of mount Meru. He practically divided the whole Bhumandala in seven islands and ruled the world like his unparalleled self with 11 arbudas of years.