FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.4

पप्रच्छ रथमारूढ: कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदम् । मेघगम्भीरया वाचा समारोपितकार्मुक: ॥ ४ ॥
papraccha ratham ārūḍhaḥ
[paprachcha ratham aaroodhah]
kārtasvara-paricchadam
[kaartasvara-parichchadam]
megha-gambhīrayā vācā
[megha-gambheerayaa vaachaa]
samāropita-kārmukaḥ
[samaaropita-kaarmukah]
papraccha — inquired ratham — chariot ārūḍhaḥ — seated on kārtasvara — gold paricchadam — embossed with megha — cloud gambhīrayā — exonerating vācā — sound samāropita — well equipped kārmukaḥ — arrows and bow.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
papraccha ratham ārūḍhaḥ
papraccha
inquired
ratham
chariot
ārūḍhaḥ
seated on
kārtasvara-paricchadam
kārtasvara
gold
paricchadam
embossed with
megha-gambhīrayā vācā
megha
cloud
gambhīrayā
exonerating
vācā
sound
samāropita-kārmukaḥ
samāropita
well equipped
kārmukaḥ
arrows and bow.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit, well equipped with arrows and bow and seated on a gold-embossed chariot, spoke to him [the śūdra] with a deep voice sounding like thunder.

An administrative head or king like Mahārāja Parīkṣit, with full majestic authority, well equipped with weapons to chastise miscreants, can challenge the agents of the Age of Kali. Then only will it be possible to counteract the degraded age. And in the absence of such strong executive heads, there is always disruption of tranquillity. The elected show-bottle executive head, as representative of a degraded public, cannot be equal with a strong king like Mahārāja Parīkṣit. The dress or style of royal order does not count. It is one’s actions which are counted.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Situated in his chariot, with his bow poised, in a voice deep as thunder, he questioned the śūdra dressed in gold.
Commentary

Kārtasvara means gold. He had his bow ready in case the śūdra tried to flee.

Parīkṣit, equipped with bow and arrows on a gold-embossed chariot, spoke with a deep voice like thunder. Authority is in posture and voice, not just title. The right tone stops cruelty.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I shrink my voice when it should thunder?
  • What posture could I take that would change a room?
📝 My note

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