TThe Sanatkumara Gita is contained in chapter 22 of Skandha IV of Srimad Bhagavata.
Maitreya said:
1. While people were thus extolling Prthu of mighty prowess, there approached four sages, brilliant like the sun.
2. Attended upon by his servants, the King saw those lords of sages descending from the heavens. They were recognized to be Sanaka and others, by their lustre which
absolved the worlds of sins.
3. Just as the lord of sense-organs (Jiva) rushes forth to the objects of senses, Prthu, the son of Vena, along with the courtiers and attendants, immediately stood up (and
went forth to the sages), as if to recover his vital breaths which sprang forth at their sight.
4. When the sages accepted preliminary reception (arghya) and occupied the seats (offered to them), the courteous King, who was hypnotized with their august presence,
bowed down his head out of modesty, and worshipped them with due formalities.
Arghya consists of respectfully offering water and other articles to gods or venerable persons.
5. (To purify himself) the King sprinkled the hair on his head with (the sanctifying drops of) water with which he washed their feet. He, thereby, observed the course of
conduct of the virtuous, to show respect to them.
6. The King was endowed with deep faith and self-discipline, and was full of joy. He addressed those elder brothers of Lord Siva, who occupied seats of gold, and were looking like sacrificial fires in their respective altars.
Prthu said:
7. Oh! What meritorious deeds I must have performed that I have the privilege of seeing you, the abodes of auspiciousness, who are very difficult to be perceived even by masters of yoga!
8. What is very difficult to attain here and hereafter to a person unto whom Brahmanas (like you), and gods Siva and Visnu along with their attendants are gracious!
9. Just as Mahat and other principles (or Brahma, Manu and other makers of the world), which are the causes of the universe, do not visualize the Omniscient Atman (Soul), people do not at all see you even though you roam over the world (to help them to attain their purusharthas).
10. Verily, blessed are those saintly householders who, though poor, have in their homes materials for worship such as water, mat of (darbha) grass, accommodation
(cleaned floor), the master of the household and his dependants ready (for receiving) the worthies.
11. (Unwelcome) like the trees which are haunted by poisonous serpents are the homes which, though fully furnished with all kinds of riches, are not hallowed by the holy water used for washing the feet Visnu’s devotees.
12. Welcome is your arrival, Oh preeminent Brahmanas, who, determined to secure liberation, have been faithfully and with resolute mind, observing great vows (like lifelong celibacy) since your very childhood. (It may also mean, ‘Brahmanas whose course of observance of vows is followed by other ignorant persons desirous of Liberation’).
13. O spiritual Masters! Is there any hope of good for us who regard the (achievement of) objects of senses as the goal of life and who, by our own deeds, have fallen into the samsara, the bed of miseries?
14. The etiquette of enquiring after welfare of the guests is not applicable (or desirable) in the case of such great men like you who are absorbed in the bliss of the Atman (Soul), and who are above the thoughts of welfare or otherwise.
15. You are the friends and well-wishers of the distressed. With full faith in you, I, therefore, wish to enquire of you how one can speedily achieve Moksha (Liberation) in this samsara.
16. It is obviously certain that the eternal Lord Narayana, who shines as the soul of the self-knowing sages and who manifests Himself (in the heart of the devotees), goes about the world, in the form of Siddhas (like you), for showering His grace upon His votaries.
Maitreya said:
17. Having heard Prthu’s beautifully worded, logical, deeply significant, brief, melodious speech, Sanatkumara slightly smiled, and verily replied with pleasure.
Sanatkumara said:
18. With the welfare of all beings at your heart, a good enquiry has been made by Your Majesty, even though you know its answer. O great King! For, such is the nature of the righteous.
19. The meeting of the righteous is highly approved by both (the speakers and the members of the audience); for, their dialogues and enquiries increase the happiness of all.
20. O King! Your honour has definitely a constant and abiding love for eulogizing the excellent attributes of the lotus-like feet of Lord Visnu (the enemy of demon Madhu).
Such constancy of love is difficult to be found in others. Such love (if generated) completely shakes off the sticky dirt of inner passions and desires in the heart (which is otherwise difficult to remove).
21. In the Sastras, which have made a thorough enquiry (about the good of beings), it has been positively stated that perfect non-attachment to things other than the soul (one’s own body), firm and constant love of the attribute-less Brahman and the Self constitute the means to the final beatitude of men.
