SB 1.15.39 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 39
Mathurayam tatha vajram surasenapatim tatah Prajapatyam nirupya istam agnim apivat iswarah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Mathurayam—at Mathura. Tatha—also, Vajram—of the name, Surasenapatim—King of the Surasenas, Tatah—thereafter, Prajapatyam—Sacrifice of the names Nirupya—having performed, Istam—goal, Agnim—fire, Apivat—placed in himself, Iwsarah—capable.
TRANSLATION
Then he posted Vajra the son of Aniruddha (grandson of Lord Krishna) at Mathura as the King of Surasena and afterwards capable Maharaj Yudhisthir performed sacrifice of the name Prajapati and placed in himself the fire for quitting household life.
PURPORT
Maharaj Yudhisthir after placing Maharaj Parikshit on the imperial throne of Hastinapur and after posting Vajra the great grandson of Lord Krishna as the King of Mathura accepted the renounced order of life. The system of four orders of life and four castes in terms of quality and work known as Varnashram Dharma, is the beginning of real human life and Maharaj Yudhisthira as the protector of this system of human activities, timely retired from active life as a Sannyasi handing over the charge of the administration to a trained up younger prince like Maharaj Parikshit. The scientific system of Varnashram Dharma divides the human life in four divisions of occupation and four orders of the duration of life. The four orders of the duration of life as Brahmachari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sanyas are to be followed by all irrespective of the occupational division. Modern politicains do not wish to retire from active life even they are old enough but Maharaj as an ideal king voluntarily retired from active administrative life, for preparing himself for the next life. Everyone's life must be so arranged that at the last stage of life say at least 15 to 20 years of the last stage of life prior to death, may be absolutely devoted in the matter of devotional service of the Lord to attain the highest prefection of life. It is really foolishness to engage oneself all the days of life in the matter of material enjoyment and fruitive activities; because as long as the mind shall remain absorbed in the matter of fruitive work for material enjoyment there is no chance of getting out from conditioned life of material bondage. Nobody may follow a suicidal policy of neglecting the supreme task of attaining the highest perfection of life namely back to home, back-to-Godhead.