FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.4.12

तोकानां पितरौ बन्धू द‍ृश: पक्ष्म स्त्रिया: पति: । पति: प्रजानां भिक्षूणां गृह्यज्ञानां बुध: सुहृत् ॥ १२ ॥
tokānāṁ pitarau bandhū
[tokaanaam pitarau bandhoo]
dṛśaḥ pakṣma striyāḥ patiḥ
[drishah pakshma striyaah patih]
patiḥ prajānāṁ bhikṣūṇāṁ
[patih prajaanaam bhikshoonaam]
gṛhy ajñānāṁ budhaḥ suhṛt
[grihy ajnaanaam budhah suhrit]
Word-for-word
tokānām — of children pitarau — the two parents bandhū — the friends dṛśaḥ — of the eye pakṣma — the eyelid striyāḥ — of the woman patiḥ — the husband patiḥ — the protector prajānām — of the subjects bhikṣūṇām — of the beggars gṛhī — the householder ajñānām — of the ignorant budhaḥ — the learned su-hṛt — the friend.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tokānāṁ pitarau bandhū
tokānām
of children
pitarau
the two parents
bandhū
the friends
dṛśaḥ pakṣma striyāḥ patiḥ
dṛśaḥ
of the eye
pakṣma
the eyelid
striyāḥ
of the woman
patiḥ
the husband
patiḥ prajānāṁ bhikṣūṇāṁ
patiḥ
the protector
prajānām
of the subjects
bhikṣūṇām
of the beggars
gṛhy ajñānāṁ budhaḥ suhṛt
gṛhī
the householder
ajñānām
of the ignorant
budhaḥ
the learned
su-hṛt
the friend.
As the father and mother are the friends and maintainers of their children, as the eyelid is the protector of the eye, as the husband is the maintainer and protector of a woman, as the householder is the maintainer and protector of beggars, and as the learned is the friend of the ignorant, so the king is the protector and giver of life to all his subjects. The trees are also subjects of the king. Therefore they should be given protection.
Purport

By the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead, there are various protectors and maintainers for helpless living entities. The trees are also considered prajās, subjects of the king, and therefore the duty of the monarch is to protect even the trees, not to speak of others. The king is duty-bound to protect the living entities in his kingdom. Thus although the parents are directly responsible for the protection and maintenance of their children, the duty of the king is to see that all parents do their duty properly. Similarly, the king is also responsible for overseeing the other protectors mentioned in this verse. It may also be noted that the beggars who should be maintained by the householders are not professional beggars, but sannyāsīs and brāhmaṇas, to whom the householders should supply food and clothing.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The king protects the citizens just as the parents protect the children, the eyelid protects the eye, the husband protects his wife, the householder protects those who beg food, and the intelligent person protects the ignorant. You are the protectors of the population. The trees and other entities are the population. The population should be protected. You must protect them. You cannot destroy them. Five examples are given. Tokānām means children. Striyāḥ patiḥ is a husband. Prajānām patiḥ is a king.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
As parents protect children, eyelids the eyes, a husband his wife, householders beggars, and the learned the ignorant — so leaders protect their subjects. Care expresses itself in a chain of small, structural roles.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'eyelid role' have I been given, and am I performing it?
  • Where am I being protected by such a role and failing to be grateful?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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