FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.55

गोपीथाय जगत्सृष्टे: काले स्वे स्वेऽच्युतात्मक: । मनोवाग्वृत्तिभि: सौम्यैर्गुणै: संरञ्जयन् प्रजा: ॥ ५५ ॥
gopīthāya jagat-sṛṣṭeḥ
[gopeethaaya jagat-srishteh]
kāle sve sve ’cyutātmakaḥ
[kaale sve sve ’chyutaatmakah]
mano-vāg-vṛttibhiḥ saumyair
[mano-vaag-vrittibhih saumyair]
guṇaiḥ saṁrañjayan prajāḥ
[gunaih samranjayan prajaah]
gopīthāya — for the protection of jagat-sṛṣṭeḥ — of the supreme creator kāle — in due course of time sve sve — own acyuta-ātmakaḥ — being Kṛṣṇa conscious manaḥ — mind vāk — words vṛttibhiḥ — by occupation saumyaiḥ — very gentle guṇaiḥ — by qualification saṁrañjayan — pleasing prajāḥ — the citizens.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
gopīthāya jagat-sṛṣṭeḥ
gopīthāya
for the protection of
jagat-sṛṣṭeḥ
of the supreme creator
kāle sve sve ’cyutātmakaḥ
kāle
in due course of time
sve sve
own
acyuta-ātmakaḥ
being Kṛṣṇa conscious
manaḥ
mind
mano-vāg-vṛttibhiḥ saumyair
vāk
words
vṛttibhiḥ
by occupation
saumyaiḥ
very gentle
guṇaiḥ saṁrañjayan prajāḥ
guṇaiḥ
by qualification
saṁrañjayan
pleasing
prajāḥ
the citizens.
Since Mahārāja Pṛthu was a perfect devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he wanted to protect the Lord’s creation by pleasing the various citizens according to their various desires. Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja used to please them in all respects by his words, mentality, works and gentle behavior.

As will be explained in the next verse, Pṛthu Mahārāja used to please all kinds of citizens by his extraordinary capacity to understand the mentality of others. Indeed, his dealings were so perfect that every one of the citizens was very much satisfied and lived in complete peace. The word acyutātmakaḥ is significant in this verse, for Mahārāja Pṛthu used to rule this planet as the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He knew that he was the representative of the Lord and that the Lord’s creation must be protected intelligently. Atheists cannot understand the purpose behind the creation. Although this material world is condemned when it is compared to the spiritual world, there is still some purpose behind it. Modern scientists and philosophers cannot understand that purpose, nor do they believe in the existence of a creator. They try to establish everything by their so-called scientific research, but they do not center anything around the supreme creator. A devotee, however, can understand the purpose of creation, which is to give facilities to the individual living entities who want to lord it over material nature. The ruler of this planet should therefore know that all the inhabitants, especially human beings, have come to this material world for sense enjoyment. It is therefore the duty of the ruler to satisfy them in their sense enjoyment as well as to elevate them to Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that they all can ultimately return home, back to Godhead.

With this idea in mind, the king or government head should rule the world. In this way, everyone will be satisfied. How can this be accomplished? There are many examples like Pṛthu Mahārāja, and the history of his regency on this planet is elaborately described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Even in this fallen age, if the rulers, governors and presidents take advantage of Pṛthu Mahārāja’s example, there will certainly be a reign of peace and prosperity throughout the world.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Always thinking of the Lord in order to protect the created universe according to time, he pleased the citizens by his attractive qualities, words and mind. Gopīthāya means “for protecting.”
He pleased every citizen according to desire — by words, mind, works, gentle behavior. Universal-pleasing requires deep listening; the means are calibrated per person.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I pleasing everyone the same way, missing what each actually needs?
  • Which of these means (words, mind, works, behavior) is most under-deployed in my care for others?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 22