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SB 1.10.3 (1964)



His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada



TEXT No. 3

Nishamya bhismoktam atha achyutoktam Prabritta vijnana bidhuta bibhramah Sasasa gam indraiva ajita asraya Paridhyupantam anuj anubartitah.


ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Nishamaya—after listening, Bhismoktam—what was spoken by Bhismadeva, Atha—as also, Achyutoktam—what was spoken by Lord Krishna the infallible, Prabritta—being engaged in, Vijnana—matter of perfect knowledge, Bidhuta—completely washed, Bibhramah—all misgivings, Sasasa—ruled over, Gam—the earth, Indra—the king of heavenly planet, Iva—like, Ajita asrayah—protected by the invincible Lord, Paridhyupantam—including the seas, Anuja—the younger brothers, Anubartitah—being followed by them.


TRANSLATION

Maharaj Yudhisthir after being enlightened by what was spoken by Bhismadeva and that also by the Lord Sri Krishna the infallible, was engaged in the perfect matter of knowledge because all his misgivings were eradicated; and thus he ruled over the earth including the seas being followed by his younger brothers.


PURPORT

Tbe modern English law of primogeniture or the law of inheritance by the first born was also prevalent in those days when Maharaj Yudhisthir ruled over the earth including the seas. In those days the King of Hastinapur (now part of New Delhi) was the emperor of the world including the seas upto the time of Maharaj Parikshit the grand-son of Maharaj Yudhisthir. His younger bothers were acting as his ministers and commanders of the state and there was full co-operation between the perfectly religious brothers of the king. Maharaj Yudhisthir was the ideal king or representative of Lord Shri Krishna to rule over the kingdom of earth as much as King Indra is the representative ruler of the heavenly planet. The demigods like Indra, Chandra, Surya, Varuna, Vayu etc all are representative kings of different planets of the universe and similarly Maharaj Yudhisthir was also one of them to rule over the kingdom of earth. Maharaj Yudhisthir was not a political leader of the modern democracy without any enlightenment. Maharaj Yudhisthir was instructed by Bhismadeva and the infallible Lord also and therefore he had full knowledge of everything in perfection.

The modern elected executive head of a state is just like a doll because he has no kingly power. Even he is enlightened like Maharaj Yudhisthir, he cannot do anything out of his good will due to his constitutional position. Therefore, there are so many states over the earth each quarreling with the other for ideological difference or other selfish motive. But king like Maharaj Yudhisthir had no idology of his own creation. He had to follow the instructions of the infallible Lord and the Lord's representative and authorised agent like Bhismadeva. It is instructed in the Shastras that one should follow the great authority and the infallible Lord without any personal motive and manufactured ideology. Therefore, it was possible for Maharaj Yudhisthir to rule over the whole world including the seas because the principles were infallible and universally applicable to everyone. Conception of one world state can only be fulfilled if we are to follow the infallible and the authority. An imperfect human being cannot place an ideology acceptable to everyone. Only the perfect and the infallible can place before a programme which is applicable at every place and can be followed by all in the world. It is the person who rules and not the impersonal Government. If the person is perfect the Government is perfect. If the person is a fool the Government is a fool's paradise. That is the Law of nature. There are so many stories of the imperfect kings or executive head. Therefore, the executive head must be a trained person like Maharaj Yudhisthir and he must have the full autocratic power to rule over the world. The conception of world state can take shape only under the regime of a perfect king like Maharaj Yudhisthir. The world was happy in those days because there were kings like Maharaj Yudhisthir and others to rule over the world.