FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.41

अथैतानि न सेवेत बुभूषु: पुरुष: क्‍वचित् । विशेषतो धर्मशीलो राजा लोकपतिर्गुरु: ॥ ४१ ॥
athaitāni na seveta
[athaitaani na seveta]
bubhūṣuḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit
[bubhooshuh purushah kvachit]
viśeṣato dharma-śīlo
[visheshato dharma-sheelo]
rājā loka-patir guruḥ
[raajaa loka-patir guruh]
atha — therefore etāni — all these na — never seveta — come in contact bubhūṣuḥ — those who desire well-being puruṣaḥ — person kvacit — in any circumstances viśeṣataḥ — specifically dharma-śīlaḥ — those who are on the progressive path of liberation rājā — the king loka-patiḥ — public leader guruḥ — the brāhmaṇas and the sannyāsīs..
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
athaitāni na seveta
atha
therefore
etāni
all these
na
never
bubhūṣuḥ puruṣaḥ kvacit
viśeṣato dharma-śīlo
seveta
come in contact
bubhūṣuḥ
those who desire well-being
puruṣaḥ
person
kvacit
in any circumstances
viśeṣataḥ
specifically
dharma-śīlaḥ
those who are on the progressive path of liberation
rājā loka-patir guruḥ
rājā
the king
loka-patiḥ
public leader
guruḥ
the brāhmaṇas and the sannyāsīs..
Therefore, whoever desires progressive well-being, especially kings, religionists, public leaders, brāhmaṇas and sannyāsīs, should never come in contact with the four above-mentioned irreligious principles.

The brāhmaṇas are the religious preceptors for all other castes, and the sannyāsīs are the spiritual masters for all the castes and orders of society. So also are the king and the public leaders who are responsible for the material welfare of all people. The progressive religionists and those who are responsible human beings or those who do not want to spoil their valuable human lives should refrain from all the principles of irreligiosity, especially illicit connection with women. If a brāhmaṇa is not truthful, all his claims as a brāhmaṇa at once become null and void. If a sannyāsī is illicitly connected with women, all his claims as a sannyāsī at once become false. Similarly, if the king and the public leader are unnecessarily proud or habituated to drinking and smoking, certainly they become disqualified to discharge public welfare activities. Truthfulness is the basic principle for all religions. The four leaders of the human society, namely the sannyāsīs, the brāhmaṇa, the king and the public leader, must be tested crucially by their character and qualification. Before one can be accepted as a spiritual or material master of society, he must be tested by the above-mentioned criteria of character. Such public leaders may be less qualified in academic qualifications, but it is necessary primarily that they be free from the contamination of the four disqualifications, namely gambling, drinking, prostitution and animal slaughter.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The person who desires his own benefit, and particularly the religious king, the protector of people and the teacher, should not indulge in these five items.
Commentary

One should not serve women beyond one’s married wife. Bubhūṣuḥ means “desiring his own benefit.” “Not indulging in gold or wealth” means not being attached to it (though to some degree everyone has to use it.)

Whoever desires well-being — especially kings, religionists, public leaders, brāhmaṇas, and sannyāsīs — should never come in contact with these four irreligious principles. Role-bearers should be most careful.
Reflection Questions
  • What role am I currently in that requires me to be more careful than others?
  • Where am I treating my role's purity as optional?
📝 My note

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