PRIYAVRATA

Priyavrata married Kamya the daughter of the patriarch Kardama, and had by her two daughters, and ten sons who were wise, valiant, modest and dutiful . It is said that Priyavrata divided the earth into seven continents, and gave them respectively to his seven sons.

Priyavrata was the second son of the first man, Manu. At the early age he had learnt the spiritual truths at the feet of his master, Naradha. Now he was ready to renounce the world and take Sannyasa. Manu wanted him to remain in the world and live as a royal king, ruling the earth. But Priyavrata would not listen to him.

One day Naradha and Priyavrata were sitting and discussing the sacred truths. The teacher and the taught were both enjoying the divine beauty of the discourse. At this time Brahma appeared before them. They felt the presence of heavenly being and stood up to receive him. Brahma was pleased and smiled lovingly at them. Your father Manu, your teacher Naradha and I � all of us obey the divine will. A human being must go through birth and death, pleasure and pain, happiness and misery. "As a man after a bad dream wakes up and remembers it, so to a free soul is unattached to his karmas.


"A man may run away from the world and its attractions, but if his mind is obsessed with passions, they will follow him wherever he goes. But if a man is devoted to God he remains in the world with a pure heart. It is my wish that you should live on and rule the land as a king keeping your mind free from passions and desires." Priyavrata accepted this command. After some years he took a wife. She gave birth to ten sons and a daughter. Priyavrata ruled the land zealously and in later life, under the guidance of his teacher, Naradha, took the vows of Sanyasa. His hearts dearest wish was fulfilled and he was united with God.