SB 5.7.4 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.7.4

स बहुविन्महीपति: पितृपितामहवदुरुवत्सलतया स्वे स्वे कर्मणि वर्तमाना: प्रजा: स्वधर्ममनुवर्तमान: पर्यपालयत् ॥ ४ ॥

sa bahuvin mahī-patiḥ pitṛ-pitāmahavad uru-vatsalatayā sve sve karmaṇi vartamānāḥ prajāḥ sva-dharmam anuvartamānaḥ paryapālayat.

[sa bahuvin mahee-patih pitri-pitaamahavad uru-vatsalatayaa sve sve karmani vartamaanaah prajaah sva-dharmam anuvartamaanah paryapaalayat.]

Word-for-word

saḥ — that King (Mahārāja Bharata) bahu-vit — being very advanced in knowledge mahī-patiḥ — the ruler of the earth pitṛ — father pitāmaha — grandfather vat — exactly like uru-vatsalatayā — with the quality of being very affectionate to the citizens sve sve — in their own respective karmaṇi — duties vartamānāḥ — remaining prajāḥ — the citizens sva-dharmam anuvartamānaḥ — being perfectly situated in his own occupational duty paryapālayat — ruled.

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

sa bahuvin mahī-patiḥ pitṛ-pitāmahavad uru-vatsalatayā sve sve karmaṇi vartamānāḥ prajāḥ sva-dharmam anuvartamānaḥ paryapālayat.

saḥ

that King (Mahārāja Bharata)

bahu-vit

being very advanced in knowledge

mahī-patiḥ

the ruler of the earth

pitṛ

father

pitāmaha

grandfather

vat

exactly like

uru-vatsalatayā

with the quality of being very affectionate to the citizens

sve sve

in their own respective

karmaṇi

duties

vartamānāḥ

remaining

prajāḥ

the citizens

sva-dharmam anuvartamānaḥ

being perfectly situated in his own occupational duty

paryapālayat

ruled.

Mahārāja Bharata was a very learned and experienced king on this earth. He perfectly ruled the citizens, being himself engaged in his own respective duties. Mahārāja Bharata was as affectionate to the citizens as his father and grandfather had been. Keeping them engaged in their occupational duties, he ruled the earth.

Purport

It is most important that the chief executive rule the citizens by keeping them fully engaged in their respective occupational duties. Some of the citizens were brāhmaṇas, some were kṣatriyas, and some were vaiśyas and śūdras. It is the duty of the government to see that the citizens act according to these material divisions for their spiritual advancement. No one should remain unemployed or unoccupied in any way. One must work as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra on the material path, and on the spiritual path, everyone should act as a brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha or sannyāsī. Although formerly the government was a monarchy, all the kings were very affectionate toward the citizens, and they strictly kept them engaged in their respective duties. Therefore society was very smoothly conducted.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Mahārāja Bharata, a learned king like his father and grandfather, engaged in his own duties and engaged the citizens in their duties with great affection.

Personal Guidance

A good leader keeps people gainfully engaged in work suited to their nature. Idleness or misfit work creates collective suffering. Compassionate leadership matches each person to a role in which they can advance.

Reflection Questions

Whom under your influence is in a role that does not suit their nature, and what could you do about it?
Where in your own life are you in a misfit role, and what would honest re-alignment look like?

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io