Canto 5: The Creative ImpetusChapter 15: The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.15.11

chandāmsy akāmasya ca yasya kāmān

dudūhur ājahrur atho balim nripāh

pratyańcitā yudhi dharmena viprā

yadāśishām shashtham amśam paretya

SYNONYMS

chandāmsi — all the different parts of the Vedas; akāmasya — of one who has no desire for personal sense gratification; ca — also; yasya — whose; kāmān — all desirables; dudūhuh — yielded; ājahruh — offered; atho — thus; balim — presentation; nripāh — all the kings; pratyańcitāh — being satisfied by his fighting in opposition; yudhiin the war; dharmena — by religious principles; viprāh — all the brāhmanas; yadā — when; āśishām — of blessings; shashtham amśam — one sixth; paretyain the next life.

TRANSLATION

Although King Gaya had no personal desire for sense gratification, all his desires were fulfilled by virtue of his performance of Vedic rituals. All the kings with whom Mahārāja Gaya had to fight were forced to fight on religious principles. They were very satisfied with his fighting, and they would present all kinds of gifts to him. Similarly, all the brāhmanas in his kingdom were very satisfied with King Gaya's munificent charities. Consequently the brāhmanas contributed a sixth of their pious activities for King Gaya's benefit in the next life.

PURPORT

As a kshatriya or emperor, Mahārāja Gaya sometimes had to fight with subordinate kings to maintain his government, but the subordinate kings were not dissatisfied with him because they knew that he fought for religious principles. Consequently they accepted their subordination and offered all kinds of gifts to him. Similarly, the brāhmanas who performed Vedic rituals were so satisfied with the King that they very readily agreed to part with a sixth of their pious activities for his benefit in the next life. Thus the brāhmanas and kshatriyas were all satisfied with Mahārāja Gaya because of his proper administration. In other words. Mahārāja Gaya satisfied the kshatriya kings by his fighting and satisfied the brāhmanas by his charities. The vaiśyas were also encouraged by kind words and affectionate dealings, and due to Mahārāja Gaya's constant sacrifices, the śūdras were satisfied by sumptuous food and charity. In this way Mahārāja Gaya kept all the citizens very satisfied. When brāhmanas and saintly persons are honored, they part with their pious activities, giving them to those who honor them and render them service. Therefore, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34), tad viddhi pranipātena paripraśnena sevayā: one should try to approach a spiritual master submissively and render service unto him.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness