must retire to practice austerity
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Imported quote 13074 This is the sign of a rajarsi. King Uttanapada was very opulent and was Emperor of the world, and these attachments were certainly very great. Modern politicians are not as great as kings like Maharaja Uttanapada, but because they get some political power for some days, they become so much attached to their positions that they never retire unless they are removed from their posts by cruel death or killed by some opposing political party. It is within our experience that the politicians in India do not quit their positions until death. This was not the practice in olden days, as it is evident from the behavior of King Uttanapada. Immediately after installing his worthy son Dhruva Maharaja on the throne, he left his home and palace. There are hundreds and thousands of instances like this in which kings, in their mature age, would give up their kingdoms and go to the forest to practice austerity. Practice of austerity is the main business of human life. As Maharaja Dhruva practiced austerity in his early age, similarly his father, Maharaja Uttanapada, in his old age, also practiced austerity in the forest. It is, however, not possible in modern days to give up one's home and go to the forest to practice austerity, but if people of all ages would take shelter of the Krsna consciousness movement and practice the simple austerities of no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling and no meat-eating, and chant the Hare Krsna mantra regularly (sixteen rounds), by this practical method it would be a very easy task to get salvation from this material world.
(More...) Imported quote 13075 It appears that Dhruva Maharaja married after being installed on the throne of his father and after the departure of his father for the forest for self-realization. It is very important to note in this connection that since Maharaja Uttanapada was greatly affectionate towards his son, and since it is the duty of a father to get his sons and daughters married as quickly as possible, why did he not get his son married before he left home? The answer is that Maharaja Uttanapada was a rajarsi, saintly king. Although he was busy in his political affairs and duties of government management, still he was very anxious for self-realization. Therefore as soon as his son, Dhruva Maharaja, was quite worthy to take charge of the government, he took this opportunity to leave home, just like his son, who, without fear, left home for self-realization, even at the age of five years. These are rare instances from which we can see that the importance of spiritual realization is above all other important work. Maharaja Uttanapada knew very well that to get his son, Dhruva Maharaja, married was not so important that it should take preference to his going away to the forest for self-realization.
(More...) Imported quote 13146 Perfection of materialistic life is suitably attained by the process of observing religious principles. This leads automatically to successful economic development, and thus there is no difficulty in satisfying all material desires, but since, as a king, he had to keep up his status quo or it would not have been possible to rule over the people in general, he did it perfectly. But as soon as he saw that his son was grown up and could take charge of the royal throne, he immediately handed over the charge and retired from all material engagements.
(More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?qg=1216
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