Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.4.7
न द्रुमेभ्यो महाभागा दीनेभ्यो द्रोग्धुमर्हथ ।
विवर्धयिषवो यूयं प्रजानां पतय: स्मृता: ॥ ७ ॥
na drumebhyo mahā-bhāgā
[na drumebhyo mahaa-bhaagaa]
dīnebhyo drogdhum arhatha
[deenebhyo drogdhum arhatha]
vivardhayiṣavo yūyaṁ
[vivardhayishavo yooyam]
prajānāṁ patayaḥ smṛtāḥ
[prajaanaam patayah smritaah]
Word-for-word
na
—
not
drumebhyaḥ
—
the trees
mahā-bhāgāḥ
—
O greatly fortunate ones
dīnebhyaḥ
—
who are very poor
drogdhum
—
to burn to ashes
arhatha
—
you deserve
vivardhayiṣavaḥ
—
desiring to bring about an increase
yūyam
—
you
prajānām
—
of all living entities who have taken shelter of you
patayaḥ
—
the masters or protectors
smṛtāḥ
—
known as.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na drumebhyo mahā-bhāgā
na
not
drumebhyaḥ
the trees
mahā-bhāgāḥ
O greatly fortunate ones
dīnebhyo drogdhum arhatha
dīnebhyaḥ
who are very poor
drogdhum
to burn to ashes
arhatha
you deserve
vivardhayiṣavo yūyaṁ
vivardhayiṣavaḥ
desiring to bring about an increase
yūyam
you
prajānāṁ patayaḥ smṛtāḥ
prajānām
of all living entities who have taken shelter of you
patayaḥ
the masters or protectors
smṛtāḥ
known as.
O greatly fortunate ones, you should not kill these poor trees by burning them to ashes. Your duty is to wish the citizens [prajās] all prosperity and to act as their protectors.
Purport
It is indicated herein that the government or king has the duty of protecting not only the human beings, but all other living entities, including animals, trees and plants. No living entity should be killed unnecessarily.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O greatly fortunate ones! You who desire to increase the population and are known as the protectors of the citizens should not burn these helpless trees.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Soma reminds them: your duty is to wish prosperity to the citizens, not to incinerate the helpless. Strength without protective intent is a violation of one's actual office.
Reflection Questions
- In each role I hold, do I know what protection my position requires?
- Where have I confused my power with permission to use it?
My note
Source: vedabase.io