FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.52.34

कच्चिद् व: कुशलं ब्रह्मन् राजतो यस्य हि प्रजा: । सुखं वसन्ति विषये पाल्यमाना: स मे प्रिय: ॥ ३४ ॥
kaccid vaḥ kuśalaṁ brahman
[kachchid vah kushalam brahman]
rājato yasya hi prajāḥ
[raajato yasya hi prajaah]
sukhaṁ vasanti viṣaye
[sukham vasanti vishaye]
pālyamānāḥ sa me priyaḥ
[paalyamaanaah sa me priyah]
Word-for-word
kaccit — whether vaḥ — your kuśalam — well-being brahman — O brāhmaṇa rājataḥ — from the King yasya — whose hi — indeed prajāḥ — subjects sukham — happily vasanti — reside viṣaye — in the state pālyamānāḥ — being protected saḥ — he me — to Me priyaḥ — dear .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kaccid vaḥ kuśalaṁ brahman
kaccit
whether
vaḥ
your
kuśalam
well-being
brahman
O brāhmaṇa
rājato yasya hi prajāḥ
rājataḥ
from the King
yasya
whose
hi
indeed
prajāḥ
subjects
sukhaṁ vasanti viṣaye
sukham
happily
vasanti
reside
viṣaye
in the state
pālyamānāḥ sa me priyaḥ
pālyamānāḥ
being protected
saḥ
he
me
to Me
priyaḥ
dear .
Important Words
  • kuśalam — well-being
    From √kṛ + suffix; literally 'doing well.' The standard Vedic greeting-inquiry. Kṛṣṇa's question shifts from individual santoṣa (v. 31-33) to civic kuśala — the brāhmaṇa's well-being is also a function of the polity that houses him.
  • viṣaye-pālyamānāḥ — being protected in (his) realm
    Phrase: viṣaya (realm, territory) + pālyamāna (present passive participle of √pā, to protect). Kṣatriya-dharma in one phrase — the king's whole occupation is the active protection of his subjects.
  • me priyaḥ — dear to Me
    Phrase: me (to Me) + priya (dear). Bhagavān's own affective preference, voiced. Gauḍīyas read me priyaḥ formulas across the Gītā and Bhāgavata as Kṛṣṇa's open accounting of His own pleasures — to be His priya is the bhakta's highest fortune.
O brāhmaṇa, is your King attending to your welfare? Indeed, that king in whose country the citizens are happy and protected is very dear to Me.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O brāhmaṇa, is your King attending to your welfare? Indeed, that king in whose country the citizens are happy and protected is very dear to Me.
Commentary

That king is dear to me in whose country (visaye) the people live happily.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

Though considering that the brāhmaṇa was fixed in dharma by being satisfied in spite of undergoing difficulties, he asks about the mercy of the king as a cause of his coming, since the brāhmaṇa had nothing to desire for himself. The king should assist so that there is no calamity for the brāhmana.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya
Commentary

The king who protects the citizens is dear to me. Or dharma is accomplished by brāhmaṇas who are protected by the kings. Is there assistance from the king so there is no danger for you and your relatives? O brāhmaṇa! By your welfare, the Vedas are safe, since you are directly the Vedas. Hi means only or certainly.

Related values & verses
Related values
Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)Kshama (Forgiveness / Patience)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)
Related verses
BG 15.9 BG 12.13 BG 18.64 BG 2.62 BG 3.11 BG 12.3 SB 4.29.2 BG 9.11 BG 7.8 BG 10.3 BG 13.1 BG 5.18 BG 6.5 BG 1.1
Concepts
Dharma
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Is your King attending to your welfare? A king whose citizens are happy and protected is very dear to Me. Political leaders are evaluated by their care for their people; that care is itself a devotional act.
Reflection Questions
  • How do you evaluate leaders in your own life — by show or by the welfare of those they lead?
  • Where does your own position make you accountable for others' welfare?
Analogy

Kṛṣṇa asks after the brāhmaṇa's king the way a father asks after his daughter-in-law's family — not detached politeness but real concern, because the dharma of the kingdom is the dharma of His devotee's daily life. A good king is dear to Kṛṣṇa because a good king protects the brāhmaṇas who are dear to Kṛṣṇa.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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