FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.46

धर्मपालो नरपति: स तु सम्राड् बृहच्छ्रवा: । साक्षान्महाभागवतो राजर्षिर्हयमेधयाट् । क्षुत्तृट्‍श्रमयुतो दीनो नैवास्मच्छापमर्हति ॥ ४६ ॥
dharma-pālo nara-patiḥ
[dharma-paalo nara-patih]
sa tu samrāḍ bṛhac-chravāḥ
[sa tu samraad brihach-chravaah]
sākṣān mahā-bhāgavato
[saakshaan mahaa-bhaagavato]
rājarṣir haya-medhayāṭ
[raajarshir haya-medhayaat]
kṣut-tṛṭ-śrama-yuto dīno
[kshut-trit-shrama-yuto deeno]
naivāsmac chāpam arhati
[naivaasmach chaapam arhati]
dharma-pālaḥ — the protector of religion nara-patiḥ — the King saḥ — he tu — but samrāṭ — Emperor bṛhat — highly śravāḥ — celebrated sākṣāt — directly mahā-bhāgavataḥ — the first-class devotee of the Lord rāja-ṛṣiḥ — saint amongst the royal order haya-medhayāṭ — great performer of horse sacrifices kṣut — hunger tṛṭ — thirst śrama-yutaḥ — tired and fatigued dīnaḥ — stricken na — never eva — thus asmat — by us śāpam — curse arhati — deserves.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dharma-pālo nara-patiḥ
dharma-pālaḥ
the protector of religion
nara-patiḥ
the King
sa tu samrāḍ bṛhac-chravāḥ
saḥ
he
tu
but
samrāṭ
Emperor
bṛhat
highly
sākṣān mahā-bhāgavato
rājarṣir haya-medhayāṭ
kṣut-tṛṭ-śrama-yuto dīno
śravāḥ
celebrated
sākṣāt
directly
mahā-bhāgavataḥ
the first-class devotee of the Lord
rāja-ṛṣiḥ
saint amongst the royal order
naivāsmac chāpam arhati
haya-medhayāṭ
great performer of horse sacrifices
kṣut
hunger
tṛṭ
thirst
śrama-yutaḥ
tired and fatigued
dīnaḥ
stricken
na
never
eva
thus
asmat
by us
śāpam
curse
arhati
deserves.
The Emperor Parīkṣit is a pious king. He is highly celebrated and is a first-class devotee of the Personality of Godhead. He is a saint amongst royalty, and he has performed many horse sacrifices. When such a king is tired and fatigued, being stricken with hunger and thirst, he does not at all deserve to be cursed.

After explaining the general codes relating to the royal position and asserting that the king can do no wrong and therefore is never to be condemned, the sage Śamīka wanted to say something about Emperor Parīkṣit specifically. The specific qualification of Mahārāja Parīkṣit is summarized herein. The King, even calculated as a king only, was most celebrated as a ruler who administered the religious principles of the royal order. In the śāstras the duties of all castes and orders of society are prescribed. All the qualities of a kṣatriya mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.43) were present in the person of the Emperor. He was also a great devotee of the Lord and a self-realized soul. Cursing such a king, when he was tired and fatigued with hunger and thirst, was not at all proper. Śamīka Ṛṣi thus admitted from all sides that Mahārāja Parīkṣit was cursed most unjustly. Although all the brāhmaṇas were aloof from the incident, still for the childish action of a brāhmaṇa boy the whole world situation was changed. Thus Ṛṣi Śamīka, a brāhmaṇa, took responsibility for all deterioration of the good orders of the world.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
King Parīkṣit, the protector of dharma, the renowned emperor, a sage among kings, a very great devotee of the Lord, performer of horse sacrifices, suffering from hunger, thirst and fatigue, does not deserve our curse.
Commentary

Having said that he should not be cursed simply because he is the king, the sage now explains other reasons why he should not be cursed.

Emperor Parīkṣit is pious, a first-class devotee, saint among royalty. When such a king is tired and fatigued, being a Vaiṣṇava he doesn't deserve curse from a brāhmaṇa boy. Fatigue does not undo devotion. Protect the tired devotee.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose tiredness am I judging when I should be protecting?
  • Where could I assume the best about someone exhausted?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 18