FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.56

राजेत्यधान्नामधेयं सोमराज इवापर: । सूर्यवद्विसृजन् गृह्णन् प्रतपंश्च भुवो वसु ॥ ५६ ॥
rājety adhān nāmadheyaṁ
[raajety adhaan naamadheyam]
soma-rāja ivāparaḥ
[soma-raaja ivaaparah]
sūryavad visṛjan gṛhṇan
[sooryavad visrijan grihnan]
pratapaṁś ca bhuvo vasu
[pratapamsh cha bhuvo vasu]
Word-for-word
rājā — the King iti — thus adhāt — took up nāmadheyam — of the name soma-rājaḥ — the king of the moon planet iva — like aparaḥ — on the other hand sūrya-vat — like the sun-god visṛjan — distributing gṛhṇan — exacting pratapan — by strong ruling ca — also bhuvaḥ — of the world vasu — revenue.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
rājety adhān nāmadheyaṁ
rājā
the King
iti
thus
adhāt
took up
nāmadheyam
of the name
soma-rāja ivāparaḥ
soma-rājaḥ
the king of the moon planet
iva
like
aparaḥ
on the other hand
sūryavad visṛjan gṛhṇan
sūrya-vat
like the sun-god
visṛjan
distributing
gṛhṇan
exacting
pratapaṁś ca bhuvo vasu
pratapan
by strong ruling
ca
also
bhuvaḥ
of the world
vasu
revenue.
Mahārāja Pṛthu became as celebrated a king as Soma-rāja, the king of the moon. He was also powerful and exacting, just like the sun-god, who distributes heat and light and at the same time exacts all the planetary waters.
Purport

In this verse Mahārāja Pṛthu is compared to the kings of the moon and sun. The king of the moon and the king of the sun serve as examples of how the Lord desires the universe to be ruled. The sun distributes heat and light and at the same time exacts water from all planets. The moon is very pleasing at night, and when one becomes fatigued after a day’s labor in the sun, he can enjoy the moonshine. Like the sun-god, Pṛthu Mahārāja distributed his heat and light to give protection to his kingdom, for without heat and light no one can exist. Similarly, Pṛthu Mahārāja exacted taxes and gave such strong orders to the citizens and government that no one had the power to disobey him. On the other hand, he pleased everyone just like the moonshine. Both the sun and the moon have particular influences by which they maintain order in the universe, and modern scientists and philosophers should become familiar with the Supreme Lord’s perfect plan for universal maintenance.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Thus he took the name “King” [Note: Rāja means “he was pleasing” as well as king. This was explained in SB 4.16.15.] and was like another moon or chief of the gods. Shining like the sun, he extracted wealth and water from the earth and returned it. Soma-rāja means he was like the moon (soma) and the chief of the devatās (raja). Vasu means wealth and water.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
He was as celebrated as Soma-rāja and as powerful as the sun — distributing yet exacting. Leaders give heat and light and also collect what's owed; both functions are honest.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I distribute generously but neglect the collection part of my role?
  • What does honest exaction look like, without becoming extraction?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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