FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.14.10

आसीद्राजा सार्वभौम: शूरसेनेषु वै नृप । चित्रकेतुरिति ख्यातो यस्यासीत्कामधुङ्‍मही ॥ १० ॥
āsīd rājā sārvabhaumaḥ
[aaseed raajaa saarvabhaumah]
śūraseneṣu vai nṛpa
[shooraseneshu vai nripa]
citraketur iti khyāto
[chitraketur iti khyaato]
yasyāsīt kāmadhuṅ mahī
[yasyaaseet kaamadhun mahee]
āsīt — there was rājā — one king sārva-bhaumaḥ — an emperor of the entire surface of the globe śūraseneṣu — in the country known as Śūrasena vai — indeed nṛpa — O King citraketuḥ — Citraketu iti — thus khyātaḥ — celebrated yasya — of whom āsīt — was kāma-dhuk — supplying all the necessities mahī — the earth.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
āsīd rājā sārvabhaumaḥ
āsīt
there was
rājā
one king
sārva-bhaumaḥ
an emperor of the entire surface of the globe
śūraseneṣu vai nṛpa
śūraseneṣu
in the country known as Śūrasena
vai
indeed
nṛpa
O King
citraketur iti khyāto
citraketuḥ
Citraketu
iti
thus
khyātaḥ
celebrated
yasyāsīt kāmadhuṅ mahī
yasya
of whom
āsīt
was
kāma-dhuk
supplying all the necessities
mahī
the earth.
O King Parīkṣit, in the province of Śūrasena there was a king named Citraketu, who ruled the entire earth. During his reign, the earth produced all the necessities for life.

Here the most significant statement is that the earth completely produced all the necessities of life during the time of King Citraketu. As stated in the Īśopaniṣad :

īśāvāsyam idaṁ sarvaṁ yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” Kṛṣṇa, the supreme controller, has created the material world, which is completely perfect and free from scarcity. The Lord supplies the necessities of all living entities. These necessities come from the earth, and thus the earth is the source of supply. When there is a good ruler, that source produces the necessities of life abundantly. However, when there is not such a good ruler, there will be scarcity. This is the significance of the word kāmadhuk. Elsewhere in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.10.4) it is said, kāmaṁ vavarṣa parjanyaḥ sarva-kāma-dughā mahī: “During the reign of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, the clouds showered all the water that people needed, and the earth produced all the necessities of men in profusion.” We have experience that in some seasons the rains produce abundance and in other seasons there is scarcity. We have no control over the earth’s productiveness, for it is naturally under the full control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By His order, the Lord can make the earth produce sufficiently or insufficiently. If a pious king rules the earth according to the śāstric injunctions, there will naturally be regular rainfall and sufficient produce to provide for all men. There will be no question of exploitation, for everyone will have enough. Black-marketeering and other corrupt dealings will then automatically stop. Simply ruling the land cannot solve man’s problems unless the leader has spiritual capabilities. He must be like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, Parīkṣit Mahārāja or Rāmacandra. Then all the inhabitants of the land will be extremely happy.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King Parīkṣit! In the province of Śūrasena there was a king named Citraketu, ruling the entire earth. During his reign, the earth produced all the necessities for life.
In Śūrasena there was a king named Citraketu, who ruled the whole earth, and the earth produced all necessities during his reign. Right rulership and bountiful nature go together.
Reflection Questions
  • Where I have stewardship, does what I steward produce its proper fruits?
  • What kind of rule am I exercising in the realms I do govern?
📝 My note

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