SB 5.7.4 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

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

Verse text

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

Synonyms

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 .

Translation

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.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

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.

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.