FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.43

अलक्ष्यमाणे नरदेवनाम्नि रथाङ्गपाणावयमङ्ग लोक: । तदा हि चौरप्रचुरो विनङ्‍क्ष्य- त्यरक्ष्यमाणोऽविवरूथवत् क्षणात् ॥ ४३ ॥
alakṣyamāṇe nara-deva-nāmni
[alakshyamaane nara-deva-naamni]
rathāṅga-pāṇāv ayam aṅga lokaḥ
[rathaanga-paanaav ayam anga lokah]
tadā hi caura-pracuro vinaṅkṣyaty
[tadaa hi chaura-prachuro vinankshyaty]
arakṣyamāṇo ’vivarūthavat kṣaṇāt
[arakshyamaano ’vivaroothavat kshanaat]
alakṣyamāṇe — being abolished nara-deva — monarchical nāmni — of the name ratha-aṅga-pāṇau — the representative of the Lord ayam — this aṅga — O my boy lokaḥ — this world tadā hi — at once caura — thieves pracuraḥ — too much vinaṅkṣyati — vanquishes arakṣyamāṇaḥ — being not protected avivarūtha-vat — like lambs kṣaṇāt — at once.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
alakṣyamāṇe nara-deva-nāmni
alakṣyamāṇe
being abolished
nara-deva
monarchical
nāmni
of the name
rathāṅga-pāṇāv ayam aṅga lokaḥ
ratha-aṅga-pāṇau
the representative of the Lord
ayam
this
aṅga
O my boy
lokaḥ
this world
tadā hi caura-pracuro vinaṅkṣyaty
tadā hi
at once
caura
thieves
pracuraḥ
too much
vinaṅkṣyati
vanquishes
arakṣyamāṇo ’vivarūthavat kṣaṇāt
arakṣyamāṇaḥ
being not protected
avivarūtha-vat
like lambs
kṣaṇāt
at once.
My dear boy, the Lord, who carries the wheel of a chariot, is represented by the monarchical regime, and when this regime is abolished the whole world becomes filled with thieves, who then at once vanquish the unprotected subjects like scattered lambs.

According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam the monarchical regime represents the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead. The king is said to be the representative of the Absolute Personality of Godhead because he is trained to acquire the qualities of God to protect the living beings. The Battle of Kurukṣetra was planned by the Lord to establish the real representative of the Lord, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. An ideal king thoroughly trained by culture and devotional service with the martial spirit makes a perfect king. Such a personal monarchy is far better than the so-called democracy of no training and responsibility. The thieves and rogues of modern democracy seek election by misrepresentation of votes, and the successful rogues and thieves devour the mass of population. One trained monarch is far better than hundreds of useless ministerial rogues, and it is hinted herein that by abolition of a monarchical regime like that of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the mass of people become open to many attacks of the Age of Kali. They are never happy in an overly advertised form of democracy. The result of such a kingless administration is described in the following verses.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O child! When this King, representative of Viṣṇu, disappears, the people, suffering from thieves, will be destroyed in an instant like unprotected sheep,.
Commentary

Alakṣyamāṇe means disappearing. Avivarūthava means “like a herd of sheep.”

The Lord, holder of the wheel, is represented by monarchical regime. When it is abolished, the world fills with thieves. The mature view sees structure as protection, not constraint.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'structure' in my life am I tempted to dismiss that is actually protecting many?
  • Where could I value institutional dharma more?
📝 My note

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