maitreya uvāca
atha tasya punar viprair
aputrasya mahīpateḥ
bāhubhyāṁ mathyamānābhyāṁ
mithunaṁ samapadyata
Translation
Maitreya said: When the sages churned the two arms of the sonless king Vena, a couple appeared.
Commentary
tad dṛṣṭvā mithunaṁ jātam
ṛṣayo brahma-vādinaḥ
ūcuḥ parama-santuṣṭā
viditvā bhagavat-kalām
Translation
Seeing the couple appear, the sages, knowledgeable of the Vedas, were highly satisfied, and understanding that a portion1 of the Lord had appeared, they spoke.
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ
eṣa viṣṇor bhagavataḥ
kalā bhuvana-pālinī
iyaṁ ca lakṣmyāḥ sambhūtiḥ
puruṣasyānapāyinī
Translation
The sages said: He is an expansion of the Supreme Lord and she, maintainer of the world, is an expansion of Lakṣmī, inseparable from the Lord.
Commentary
Sambhūtiḥ ṁeans directly wealth, Lakṣmī.
ayaṁ tu prathamo rājñāṁ
pumān prathayitā yaśaḥ
pṛthur nāma mahārājo
bhaviṣyati pṛthu-śravāḥ
Translation
The first among kings, the male will increase his fame. He will be a great king, wildly known (prthu-śravāḥ), and thus will be named Pṛthu.
Commentary
The sages churned the arms of Vena. This signifies that the power of the kṣatriyas and the power of the Lord lie in the arms of the kṣatriyas. This verse explains the derivation of Pṛthus name.
iyaṁ ca sudatī devī
guṇa-bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣaṇā
arcir nāma varārohā
pṛthum evāvarundhatī
Translation
The elegant, divine woman with fine teeth, who enhances all ornaments and good qualities, named Arci will accept Pṛthu as her husband.
Commentary
She is the ornament of all ornaments and qualities. By her devotion she will control Pṛthu.
eṣa sākṣād dharer aṁśo
jāto loka-rirakṣayā
iyaṁ ca tat-parā hi śrīr
anujajñe 'napāyinī
Translation
A portion of the Supreme Lord, he has been born with a desire to protect the world. She, Lakṣmī, dedicated to him, has been born inseparable from him.
Commentary
Rirakṣayā should be rirakṣiṣayā with a desire to protect.
maitreya uvāca
praśaṁsanti sma taṁ viprā
gandharva-pravarā jaguḥ
mumucuḥ sumano-dhārāḥ
siddhā nṛtyanti svaḥ-striyaḥ
Translation
Maitreya said: The brāhmaṇas praised him, Gandharvas sang, Siddhas showered flowers and the women of Svarga danced.
Commentary
Sumano-dhārāḥ means shower of flowers.
śaḍkha-tūrya-mṛdaḍgādyā
nedur dundubhayo divi
tatra sarva upājagmur
devarṣi-pitèṇāṁ gaṇāḥ
Translation
Conches, trumpets, drums, and kettledrums sounded in the sky. All the groups of devatās, sages and Pitṛs arrived.
brahmā jagad-gurur devaiḥ
sahāsṛtya sureśvaraiḥ
vainyasya dakṣiṇe haste
dṛṣṭvā cihnaṁ gadābhṛtaḥ
Translation
pādayor aravindaṁ ca taṁ vai mene hareḥ kalām yasyāpratihataṁ cakram aṁśaḥ sa parameṣṭhinaḥ
Commentary
Brahmā, the guru of the universe, arrived with the devatās. Seeing the mark of the club on Pṛthus right hand and the lotus on his two feet, he understood that Pṛthu, whose other lines were the same as the Lords, was a portion of the Lord.
Apratihatam means his hand was not different with its other lines also.
tasyābhiṣeka ārabdho
brāhmaṇair brahma-vādibhiḥ
ābhiṣecanikāny asmai
ājahruḥ sarvato janāḥ
Translation
The brāhmaṇas, knowledgeable of the Vedas, arranged for his coronation. The people from all around brought to Pṛthu the ingredients for the bath ceremony.
sarit-samudrā girayo
nāgā gāvaḥ khagā mṛgāḥ
dyauḥ kṣitiḥ sarva-bhūtāni
samājahrur upāyanam
Translation
The rivers, oceans, mountains, snakes, cows, birds, animals, sky, earth and all living beings offered gifts.
so 'bhiṣikto mahārājaḥ
suvāsāḥ sādhv-alaḍkṛtaḥ
patnyārciṣālaḍkṛtayā
vireje 'gnir ivāparaḥ
Translation
Pṛthu, having been bathed, ornamented properly and dressed finely, along with his ornamented wife Arci, appeared like a second fire.
tasmai jahāra dhanado
haimaṁ vīra varāsanam
varuṇaḥ salila-srāvam
ātapatraṁ śaśi-prabham
Translation
O Vidura! Kuvera offered a golden throne. Varuṇa offered an umbrella brilliant as the moon, flowing with water.
vāyuś ca vāla-vyajane
dharmaḥ kīrtimayīṁ srajam
indraḥ kirīṭam utkṛṣṭaṁ
daṇòaṁ saṁyamanaṁ yamaḥ
Translation
Vāyu offered two cāmaras, Dharma offered a garland of fame, and Indra offered an excellent crown, and Yama offered a punishing rod.
brahmā brahmamayaṁ varma
bhāratī hāram uttamam
hariḥ sudarśanaṁ cakraṁ
tat-patny avyāhatāṁ śriyam
Translation
Brahmā offered armor made of the Vedas, and Sarasvatī offered an excellent necklace. The Lord offered his cakra and Lakṣmī offered imperishable wealth.
Commentary
Brahma-mayam means made of the Vedas. Varma is armor. Lakṣmī offered imperishable wealth (śriyam).
daśa-candram asiṁ rudraḥ
śata-candraṁ tathāmbikā
somo 'mṛtamayān aśvāṁs
tvaṣṭā rūpāśrayaṁ ratham
Translation
Śiva offered a sword with ten moons on the sheath and Durgā offered a shield with a hundred moons. Soma offered horses of nectar and Viśvakārmā offered a beautiful chariot.
Commentary
Śiva offered a sword with ten moons on the sheath. Durgā offered a shield with a hundred moons. Viśvakārmā offered a beautiful (rūpāśrayam) chariot.
agnir āja-gavaṁ cāpaṁ
sūryo raśmimayān iṣūn
bhūḥ pāduke yogamayyau
dyauḥ puṣpāvalim anvaham
Translation
Agni offered a bow made of goat and cow horn. The sun god offered arrows made of light rays. Earth offered shoes with magic power. The sky offered a stream of flowers daily.
Commentary
Yoga-mayyau means by putting on the shoes one could go to any desired place immediately.
nāṭyaṁ sugītaṁ vāditram
antardhānaṁ ca khecarāḥ
ṛṣayaś cāśiṣaḥ satyāḥ
samudraḥ śaḍkham ātmajam
Translation
Those flying in the sky offered drama, singing, music and the power to disappear. The sages offered true blessings. The ocean offered a conch born of himself.
Commentary
Ātmajam means born of himself.
sindhavaḥ parvatā nadyo
ratha-vīthīr mahātmanaḥ
sūto 'tha māgadho vandī
taṁ stotum upatasthire
Translation
The seas, mountains and rivers gave paths for the chariot of Pṛthu. Bards approached in order to praise Pṛthu.
stāvakāṁs tān abhipretya
pṛthur vainyaḥ pratāpavān
megha-nirhrādayā vācā
prahasann idam abravīt
Translation
Seeing them praise him, powerful Pṛthu, son of Vena, smiled and spoke like thunder.
pṛthur uvāca
bhoḥ sūta he māgadha saumya vandiû
loke 'dhunāspaṣṭa-guṇasya me syāt
kim āśrayo me stava eṣa yojyatāṁ
mā mayy abhūvan vitathā giro vaḥ
Translation
Pṛthu said: O sūta, māgadha and vandī! How can these praises be directed to me, who have unproven qualities at this time in the world? Those words cannot be applied to me but to others. Your words should not be false in being directed to me.
Commentary
How can this praise be offered to me, who have unclear qualities at this time in the world? What qualities do you see in me to praise me? But we cannot exist without praising. This should be done to someone else who is qualities, not to me (a-me). What fault do you have if we praise you? What are you afraid of? There is no fault for me, but you will incur sin for this. That is what I fear. May your words not be vain (vitathā) in being directed to me!
tasmāt parokṣe 'smad-upaśrutāny alaṁ
kariṣyatha stotram apīcya-vācaḥ
saty uttamaśloka-guṇānuvāde
jugupsitaṁ na stavayanti sabhyāḥ
Translation
In the future, not in my presence, you will be able to praise me sufficiently. Skilful bards! Since the Supreme Lords pastimes should be sung, the assembly should not praise a low person like me.
Commentary
Ocean of qualities! All these qualities will become manifest in you clearly in the future. Knowing that, we praise you. When my qualities become manifest then you can glorify me as much as you want. But do not do that now. Who will forbid you? But do it indirectly, not directly. O persons who have skill in attractive words! It is not proper to embarrass a person by glorifying him face to face. What should we do? Inspired by the assembly we have begun to glorify you. That is useless. The pastimes of the Lord should be chanted at all times and places. Thus you should not praise a low, recent person like me. Otherwise you are not a worthy assembly.
mahad-guṇān ātmani kartum īśaḥ
kaḥ stāvakaiḥ stāvayate 'sato 'pi
te 'syābhaviṣyann iti vipralabdho
janāvahāsaṁ kumatir na veda
Translation
What person who has the qualities of the Lord would have others praise him? What to speak of a person who does not have the qualities! The fool does not understand that he is the butt of a joke, mocked by the promise of having such qualities in the future.
Commentary
But you are the Supreme Lord, worthy of praise. Though it is possible for the best person to manifest in himself qualities of the Lord, what wise person would make others glorify him? No one would do that, even if he has the qualities. If he does not have the qualities, and cannot manifest such qualities, only a fool would have others praise him. That fool does not know it is an insult. How? By words like If he had studies arts and scripture he would have been a great scholar he is mocked by others.
prabhavo hy ātmanaḥ stotraṁ
jugupsanty api viśrutāḥ
hrīmantaḥ paramodārāḥ
pauruṣaṁ vā vigarhitam
Translation
Persons famous for good qualities, who are modest and generous, detest praise of themselves as if it were criticism of their abilities.
Commentary
People who have good qualities, and who enjoy being praised are not seen. Vā means like. Praise like This person is so qualified he doesnt have to follow the rules of dharma is rejected as censoring their abilities (vigarhitam pauruṣam).
vayaṁ tv aviditā loke
sūtādyāpi varīmabhiḥ
karmabhiḥ katham ātmānaṁ
gāpayiṣyāma bālavat
Translation
O praisers! I am not famous for excellent activities in this world. Like a fool, how can I engage others in praising me for those actions?
Commentary
The long ī in varīmabhiḥ is poetic license. I am not famous for performing excellent actions, so how can I engage others in glorifying me and my actions?
Thus ends the commentary on the Fifteenth Chapter of the Fourth Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas.
The Fifteenth Chapter describes the birth of Arci and Pṛthu from churning Venas arms, his coronation and theft of the offerings. What should the fathers lineage and the power of the sacrifice to Viṣṇu produce? This verse describes the result.