Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.15.8
तस्येमां गाथां पाण्डवेय पुराविद उपगायन्ति ॥ ८ ॥
tasyemāṁ gāthāṁ pāṇḍaveya purāvida upagāyanti.
[tasyemaam gaathaam paandaveya puraavida upagaayanti.]
Word-for-word
tasya
—
of King Gaya
imām
—
these
gāthām
—
poetic verses of glorification
pāṇḍaveya
—
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit
purā-vidaḥ
—
those learned in the historical events of the Purāṇas
upagāyanti
—
sing.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasyemāṁ gāthāṁ pāṇḍaveya purāvida upagāyanti.
tasya
of King Gaya
imām
these
gāthām
poetic verses of glorification
pāṇḍaveya
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit
purā-vidaḥ
those learned in the historical events of the Purāṇas
upagāyanti
sing.
My dear King Parīkṣit, those who are learned scholars in the histories of the Purāṇas eulogize and glorify King Gaya with the following verses.
Purport
The historical references to exalted kings serve as a good example for present rulers. Those who are ruling the world at the present moment should take lessons from King Gaya, King Yudhiṣṭhira and King Pṛthu and rule the citizens so that they will be happy. Presently the governments are levying taxes without improving the citizens in any cultural, religious, social or political way. According to the Vedas, this is not recommended.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O King Parīkṣit! Scholars of the Purāṇas glorify King Gaya with the following verses.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Modern rulers can learn from Gaya, Yudhiṣṭhira and Pṛthu — leaders who taxed only to serve and uplifted citizens culturally, religiously, and politically. Extraction without uplift is exploitation, not government.
Reflection Questions
- Whose taxes (literal or metaphorical) are you collecting without offering proportional uplift?
- Which historical leader's example most challenges your current style of authority?
My note
Source: vedabase.io