How a Ruler Should Be

2013-06-12
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.20.47-48 - How a Ruler Should Be (download mp3)
by Prem Kishor Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net




SB 10.20.47
udahrsyan varijani
 suryotthane kumud vina
rajña tu nirbhaya loka
 yatha dasyun vina nrpa

Translation:
O King Pariksit, when the autumn sun rose, all the lotus flowers blossomed happily, except the night-blooming kumut, just as in the presence of a strong ruler everyone becomes fearless, except the thieves.


SB 10.20.48
pura-gramesv agrayanair
 indriyais ca mahotsavaih
babhau bhuh pakva-sasyadhya
 kalabhyam nitaram hareh

Translation:
In all the towns and villages people held great festivals, performing the Vedic fire sacrifice for honoring and tasting the first grains of the new harvest, along with similar celebrations that followed local custom and tradition. Thus the earth, rich with newly grown grain and especially beautified by the presence of Krsna and Balarama, shone beautifully as an expansion of the Supreme Lord.

Purport:
The word agrayanaih refers to a particular authorized Vedic sacrifice, and the word indriyaih refers to folk ceremonies that have somewhat worldly objectives.
Srila Prabhupada comments as follows: “During autumn, the fields become filled with ripened grains. At that time, the people become happy over the harvest and observe various ceremonies, such as Navanna, the offering of new grains to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The new grains are first offered to the Deities in various temples, and all are invited to take sweet rice made of these new grains. There are other religious ceremonies and methods of worship, particularly in Bengal, where the greatest of all such ceremonies is held, called Durga-puja.”