FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.15.11

छन्दांस्यकामस्य च यस्य कामान्दुदूहुराजह्रुरथो बलिं नृपा: प्रत्यञ्चिता युधि धर्मेण विप्रायदाशिषां षष्ठमंशं परेत्य ॥ ११ ॥
chandāṁsy akāmasya ca yasya kāmān
[chandaamsy akaamasya cha yasya kaamaan]
dudūhur ājahrur atho baliṁ nṛpāḥ
[dudoohur aajahrur atho balim nripaah]
pratyañcitā yudhi dharmeṇa viprā
[pratyanchitaa yudhi dharmena vipraa]
yadāśiṣāṁ ṣaṣṭham aṁśaṁ paretya
[yadaashishaam shashtham amsham paretya]
chandāṁsi — all the different parts of the Vedas akāmasya — of one who has no desire for personal sense gratification ca — also yasya — whose kāmān — all desirables dudūhuḥ — yielded ājahruḥ — offered atho — thus balim — presentation nṛpāḥ — all the kings pratyañcitāḥ — being satisfied by his fighting in opposition yudhi — in the war dharmeṇa — by religious principles viprāḥ — all the brāhmaṇas yadā — when āśiṣām — of blessings ṣaṣṭham aṁśam — one sixth paretya — in the next life.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
chandāṁsy akāmasya ca yasya kāmān
chandāṁsi
all the different parts of the Vedas
akāmasya
of one who has no desire for personal sense gratification
ca
also
yasya
whose
kāmān
all desirables
dudūhur ājahrur atho baliṁ nṛpāḥ
dudūhuḥ
yielded
ājahruḥ
offered
atho
thus
balim
presentation
nṛpāḥ
all the kings
pratyañcitā yudhi dharmeṇa viprā
pratyañcitāḥ
being satisfied by his fighting in opposition
yudhi
in the war
dharmeṇa
by religious principles
viprāḥ
all the brāhmaṇas
yadāśiṣāṁ ṣaṣṭham aṁśaṁ paretya
yadā
when
āśiṣām
of blessings
ṣaṣṭham aṁśam
one sixth
paretya
in the next life.
Although King Gaya had no personal desire for sense gratification, all his desires were fulfilled by virtue of his performance of Vedic rituals. All the kings with whom Mahārāja Gaya had to fight were forced to fight on religious principles. They were very satisfied with his fighting, and they would present all kinds of gifts to him. Similarly, all the brāhmaṇas in his kingdom were very satisfied with King Gaya’s munificent charities. Consequently the brāhmaṇas contributed a sixth of their pious activities for King Gaya’s benefit in the next life.

As a kṣatriya or emperor, Mahārāja Gaya sometimes had to fight with subordinate kings to maintain his government, but the subordinate kings were not dissatisfied with him because they knew that he fought for religious principles. Consequently they accepted their subordination and offered all kinds of gifts to him. Similarly, the brāhmaṇas who performed Vedic rituals were so satisfied with the King that they very readily agreed to part with a sixth of their pious activities for his benefit in the next life. Thus the brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas were all satisfied with Mahārāja Gaya because of his proper administration. In other words, Mahārāja Gaya satisfied the kṣatriya kings by his fighting and satisfied the brāhmaṇas by his charities. The vaiśyas were also encouraged by kind words and affectionate dealings, and due to Mahārāja Gaya’s constant sacrifices, the śūdras were satisfied by sumptuous food and charity. In this way Mahārāja Gaya kept all the citizens very satisfied. When brāhmaṇas and saintly persons are honored, they part with their pious activities, giving them to those who honor them and render them service. Therefore, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34) , tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā: one should try to approach a spiritual master submissively and render service unto him.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Vedas yielded all desires to King Gaya, who had no desires. All kings, satisfied with his fighting during war, offered tribute to King Gaya. The brāhmaṇas, respected by charity, offered him one sixth of their piety for the next life. The kings, worshipped (pratyañcitāḥ) by his arrows during battle, offered tribute. The brāhmaṇas, worshipped by charity (dharmena), offered a sixth of the results of their pious acts as blessings for the next world. Smṛti says puṇyaṁ ṣaḍbhāgam ādatte nyāyena paripālayan: the king who rules with justice receives a sixth of the citizens’ pious acts. (Yājñavalkya Smṛti 1.335)
Gaya's wars were religious, his rituals satisfying, and his opponents gave gifts even after being defeated. When power serves dharma, even adversaries recognize the rightness of being subordinated to it. Use force, when you must, only in service of dharma.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have you used force or pressure for personal aims rather than dharmic ones?
  • What battle in your life would only feel right to fight if dharma, not ego, were leading it?
📝 My note

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