FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.31

राजोवाच न ते गुडाकेशयशोधराणां बद्धाञ्जलेर्वै भयमस्ति किञ्चित् । न वर्तितव्यं भवता कथञ्चन क्षेत्रे मदीये त्वमधर्मबन्धु: ॥ ३१ ॥
rājovāca
[raajovaacha]
na te guḍākeśa-yaśo-dharāṇāṁ
[na te gudaakesha-yasho-dharaanaam]
baddhāñjaler vai bhayam asti kiñcit
[baddhaanjaler vai bhayam asti kinchit]
na vartitavyaṁ bhavatā kathañcana
[na vartitavyam bhavataa kathanchana]
kṣetre madīye tvam adharma-bandhuḥ
[kshetre madeeye tvam adharma-bandhuh]
rājā uvāca — the King said na — not te — your guḍākeśa — Arjuna yaśaḥ-dharāṇām — of us who inherited the fame baddha-añjaleḥ — one with folded hands vai — certainly bhayam — fear asti — there is kiñcit — even a slight na — neither vartitavyam — can be allowed to live bhavatā — by you kathañcana — by all means kṣetre — in the land madīye — in my kingdom tvam — you adharma-bandhuḥ — the friend of irreligion.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājovāca
rājā uvāca
the King said
na te guḍākeśa-yaśo-dharāṇāṁ
na
not
te
your
guḍākeśa
Arjuna
yaśaḥ-dharāṇām
of us who inherited the fame
baddhāñjaler vai bhayam asti kiñcit
baddha-añjaleḥ
one with folded hands
vai
certainly
bhayam
fear
asti
there is
kiñcit
even a slight
na vartitavyaṁ bhavatā kathañcana
na
neither
vartitavyam
can be allowed to live
bhavatā
by you
kathañcana
by all means
kṣetre madīye tvam adharma-bandhuḥ
kṣetre
in the land
madīye
in my kingdom
tvam
you
adharma-bandhuḥ
the friend of irreligion.
The King thus said: We have inherited the fame of Arjuna; therefore since you have surrendered yourself with folded hands you need not fear for your life. But you cannot remain in my kingdom, for you are the friend of irreligion.

The personality of Kali, who is the friend of all kinds of irreligiosities, may be excused if he surrenders, but in all circumstances he cannot be allowed to live as a citizen in any part of a welfare state. The Pāṇḍavas were entrusted representatives of the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who practically brought into being the Battle of Kurukṣetra, but not for any personal interest. He wanted an ideal king like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and his descendants like Mahārāja Parīkṣit to rule the world, and therefore a responsible king like Mahārāja Parīkṣit could not allow the friend of irreligiosity to flourish in his kingdom at the cost of the good fame of the Pāṇḍavas. That is the way of wiping out corruption in the state, and not otherwise. The friends of irreligiosity should be banished from the state, and that will save the state from corruption.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The King said: Coming with folded hands in front of the sustainer of Arjuna’s glory, you should have no fear at all. But you, friend of irreligion, cannot stay in my kingdom at all.
Commentary

Contemplating his action he spoke. You have come with folded hands in front of me sustaining the fame of Arjuna. You cannot stay by any degree in this place.

We have inherited the fame of Arjuna; since you have surrendered, you need not fear for your life. But you cannot remain in my kingdom, for you are the friend of irreligion. Mercy with banishment.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'friend of irreligion' in my life have I allowed to remain even after I sensed it should be banished?
  • Where could mercy and removal coexist?
📝 My note

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