vayam—werājan—O Kingjāṭhareṇa—by the fire of hungerabhitaptāḥ—very much aggrievedyathā—just asagninā—by the firekoṭara-sthena—in the hollow of a treevṛkṣāḥ—treestvām—unto youadya—todayyātāḥ—we have comeśaraṇam—shelterśaraṇyam—worth taking shelter ofyaḥ—whosādhitaḥ—appointedvṛtti-karaḥ—one who gives employmentpatiḥ—masternaḥ—ourtat—thereforenaḥ—to usbhavān—Your Majestyīhatu—please tryrātave—to giveannam—food grainskṣudhā—with hungerarditānām—sufferingnara-deva-deva—O supreme master of all kingsyāvat na—lestnaṅkṣyāmahe—we will perishujjhita—being bereft ofūrjāḥ—food grainsvārtā—of occupational engagementspatiḥ—bestowertvam—youkila—indeedloka-pālaḥ—the protector of the citizens.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vayaṁ rājaṣ jāṭhareṇābhitaptā
vayam
we
rājan
O King
jāṭhareṇa
by the fire of hunger
abhitaptāḥ
very much aggrieved
yathāgninā koṭara-sthena vṛkṣāḥ
yathā
just as
agninā
by the fire
koṭara-sthena
in the hollow of a tree
vṛkṣāḥ
trees
tvām adya yātāḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ
tvām
unto you
adya
today
yātāḥ
we have come
śaraṇam
shelter
śaraṇyam
worth taking shelter of
yaḥ sādhito vṛtti-karaḥ patir naḥ
yaḥ
who
sādhitaḥ
appointed
vṛtti-karaḥ
one who gives employment
patiḥ
master
naḥ
our
tan no bhavān īhatu rātave ’nnaṁ
tat
therefore
naḥ
to us
bhavān
Your Majesty
īhatu
please try
kṣudhārditānāṁ naradeva-deva
rātave
to give
yāvan na naṅkṣyāmaha ujjhitorjā
annam
food grains
kṣudhā
with hunger
vārtā-patis tvaṁ kila loka-pālaḥ
arditānām
suffering
nara-deva-deva
O supreme master of all kings
yāvat na
lest
naṅkṣyāmahe
we will perish
ujjhita
being bereft of
ūrjāḥ
food grains
vārtā
of occupational engagements
patiḥ
bestower
tvam
you
kila
indeed
loka-pālaḥ
the protector of the citizens.
Dear King, just as a tree with a fire burning in the hollow of the trunk gradually dries up, we are drying up due to the fire of hunger in our stomachs. You are the protector of surrendered souls, and you have been appointed to give employment to us. Therefore we have all come to you for protection. You are not only a king, but the incarnation of God as well. Indeed, you are the king of all kings. You can give us all kinds of occupational engagements, for you are the master of our livelihood. Therefore, O king of all kings, please arrange to satisfy our hunger by the proper distribution of food grains. Please take care of us, lest we soon die for want of food.
Purport
It is the duty of the king to see that everyone in the social orders — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra — is fully employed in the state. Just as it is the duty of the brāhmaṇas to elect a proper king, it is the duty of the king to see that all the varṇas — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra — are fully engaged in their respective occupational duties. It is here indicated that although the people were allowed to perform their duties, they were still unemployed. Although they were not lazy, they still could not produce sufficient food to satisfy their hunger. When the people are perplexed in this way, they should approach the head of government, and the president or king should take immediate action to mitigate the distress of the people.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O King! We are suffering from the digestive fire like trees burning inside. Today we have taken shelter of you, worthy as a shelter, who have been created as our master and are our means of livelihood. O King! Therefore try to give food to us, since we are suffering from hunger, so that we do not die from lack of food. You are the protector of the people, the giver of livelihood.
You have been created (sādhitaḥ) by the churning of the brāhmaṇas. Therefore (tat) try (īhatu) to give (rātave) food to us. And you should not delay. Give us food so we do not die. Ujjhita ūrjāḥ means “without food.” You give us the means of livelihood (vārtā-patiḥ).
Like a tree with fire in its hollow we dry up from hunger; you are protector and employer, please save us — you are the very incarnation of the Lord. Honest naming of the situation is part of properly invoking help.
Reflection Questions
Which 'fire in the hollow of my trunk' have I been ignoring while assuring everyone I'm fine?
Where do I owe a clear request for help to someone genuinely positioned to give it?