॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 14 November 2022 IV.21 - The enlightened statesman King Prithu walks the way of Dharma and talks to his people about right living.
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In the Srimad Bhagavadgita, Bhagavan Sri Krishna extols the role of a Rajarshi statesman like Janaka. He has to walk the path of Dharma such that others who follow him as their leader are set an example. He can take it to the next level too if he instructs his people about what is the right way of living at every opportunity. This is exemplified in this chapter by King Prithu. We have seen how the fortunes of nations have been swayed by the quality of leadership even in our times.
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The poet Vyasa paints a most charming picture of celebration that welcomes King Prithu back from the Yajnashala into his capital. Yajnas of such a size, as we have also seen in Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam, were always conducted on a large piece of land outside the city with all facilities erected temporarily.
Read this description:
The king's capital was very beautifully decorated to receive him, with pearls, flower garlands, beautiful banners and golden gates, and the entire city was perfumed with the highly fragrant incense of sandalwood and aguru spread all over on roads, squares and parks. Fruits, flowers, and holy grains, were sprinkled. Lamps were lit. Banana plants, and betel nut plants, were put up as auspicious decorations. Musical instruments were sounded, and beautiful damsels received their king, all decked up. When the king entered the palace, conches and kettledrums were sounded, priests chanted Vedic mantras, and professional reciters offered different prayers. But in spite of all this ceremony to welcome him, the king was not the least bit affected.
Both the important citizens and the common citizens welcomed the King very heartily, and he also bestowed upon them their desired blessings.
स एवमादीन्यनवद्यचेष्टित: कर्माणि भूयांसि महान्महत्तम: । कुर्वन् शशासावनिमण्डलं यश: स्फीतं निधायारुरुहे परं पदम् ॥
T: "The great king Prithu was impeccable as a ruler, a noble soul who discharged all his responsibilities magnificently, and garnering much fame and admiration for his statesmanship, finally attained to the Lord's feet."
This summary of King Prithu's story does not satisfy Vidura. He begs Sage Maitreya to explain in detail how King Prithu acted and set an example. Vidura wanted a deep dive. Sage Maitreya smiled at these words that fitted with the nature of a great devotee like Vidura and replied.
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King Prithu ruled from his capital flanked by the Ganga and Yamuna over all the seven islands of this earth, with his sceptre symbolising unchallenged, benevolent and efficient rule. He mandated the conduct of all citizens, except sages and spiritual aspirants who were anyway by their nature on the path of Dharma.
There was once a congregation of all sages, leaders, eminent citizens, priests, and chiefs of lands for a special occasion. King Prithu was conducting some large ceremony.
King Prithu made a grand entry and greeted everyone appropriately. Sage Vyasa now gives a magnificent description of the handsomeness and attractiveness of the king's physical personality looking godly in every limb and feature and adorned from head to foot. Anyone who has read Indian scriptures will have a vivid imagination of pomp and glory and beauty and ceremony unlike anyone else unfamiliar with our Puranas!
Taking off his precious ornaments and silken robes, King Prithu was bare-chested and wore only a deerskin around his waist for the ceremony. He looked even more splendid now. He looked around at the assembly with a benign smile and began to speak in a sonorous voice in choice words of eloquence and wisdom.
"Oh noble members of the assembly, may all good fortune be upon you! May all of you great souls who have come to attend this meeting kindly hear my prayer attentively. It is germane for a well-intentioned person to submit his thoughts before such a noble assembly."
अहं दण्डधरो राजा प्रजानामिह योजित: । रक्षिता वृत्तिद: स्वेषु सेतुषु स्थापिता पृथक् ॥
य उद्धरेत्करं राजा प्रजा धर्मेष्वशिक्षयन् । प्रजानां शमलं भुङ्क्ते भगं च स्वं जहाति स: ॥
T: "By the grace of the Supreme Lord I have been appointed the king of this planet, and I carry the sceptre to rule the citizens, protect them from all danger, and give them employment according to their respective positions in the social order established by Vedic injunction. If I administer well as a king, the desirable objectives of good rule as set down by the learned will be attained, also by His grace."
"But it is also important for a good king to speak to the citizens about their respective duties in terms of Varna and Ashrama (vocation and stage of life). Simply collecting taxes is not enough as Adharma can raise its head and cause the degradation of society as well as the downfall of the king."
"Oh, citizens, therefore do your work as Swadharma in a spirit of worship of the Lord. That will be your best tribute to the king and will augur for his here and hereafter."
अस्ति यज्ञपतिर्नाम केषाञ्चिदर्हसत्तमा: । इहामुत्र च लक्ष्यन्ते ज्योत्स्नावत्य: क्वचिद्भुव: ॥
T: "Oh, wise souls, you will agree that there is a Supreme Lord who receives all our worship and Yajna offerings and rewards our efforts. Otherwise, how do you explain the differences in the well-being and fortunes of people around us? (This is the essence of Karma and Phala.) This is stated in the Vedas and can also be seen in the lives of great personalities like Svayambhuva Manu, Uttanapada, Dhruva, Priyavrata, and my grandfather Anga, as well as great personalities like Prahlada and Bali. They were all devoted to Lord Gadaabhrit (Maha Vishnu)."
Important Note: I am fond of saying that Time is circular in our Sanatana Dharma. So events are cyclical and there is no linear timeline to arrange a Dhruva, Prahlada, Rama and so on. So references can be seen in one story to another story and we should accept this feature of Puranas.
"Unlike in the case of my father Vena who was Death incarnate, there is no confusion in the minds of believers who pursue Dharma."
विनिर्धुताशेषमनोमल: पुमानसङ्गविज्ञानविशेषवीर्यवान् । यदङ्घ्रिमूले कृतकेतन: पुनर्न संसृतिं क्लेशवहां प्रपद्यते ॥
T: "The devotee surrendered at the feet of the Lord is cleansed of all sin, becomes detached, and develops a special power to attain the highest goal of life, i.e. freedom from the bondage of birth and death."
तमेव यूयं भजतात्मवृत्तिभिर्मनोवच:कायगुणै: स्वकर्मभि: । अमायिन: कामदुघाङ्घ्रिपङ्कजं यथाधिकारावसितार्थसिद्धय: ॥
T: "Therefore, dear citizens, worship the Lord in thought, word and deed, performing your Swadharma well. Harbour no malice. You are bound to reap your just reward from the unswerving compassion of the Lord who is the unfailing Kamadhenu of grace."
"The Supreme Being is transcendental and beyond material contamination. Yet He graciously accepts our prayers and offerings when our work becomes our worship."
"All creation around is nothing but the manifestation of the Lord alone, each being and thing displaying the variegated effects of the three Gunas. It is like fire which is present in all types of fuel but manifests differently in each."
"Dear citizens, when you act according to Dharma, you are worshipping the Lord and also showing your grace towards me. For that, I thank you!"
मा जातु तेज: प्रभवेन्महर्द्धिभिस्तितिक्षया तपसा विद्यया च । देदीप्यमानेऽजितदेवतानां कुले स्वयं राजकुलाद् द्विजानाम् ॥
T:" The great souls and sages engaged in Tapas and Adhyayana (studies of the sacred scriptures) are luminous guides to all society, even extolled by the gods. Kings dare not show off their pomp and power to insult such noble souls. Even Bhagavan worships these devotees! So never offend them."
"Reverence and worship of such noble Brahmins purifies you and elevates your existence. I carry the dust of their feet in my crown!"
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The sages and royals present were simply blown away by the words of King Prithu. Here was an incomparable statesman. They wondered aloud, "What a miracle that a bad one like Vena has got such a son/successor Prithu whose deeds and words will take Vena away from hell! Is this also not the same with Hiranyakashipu's son Prahlada!?" (Remember - Puranic time is circular!)
"Dear Lord Prithu, how blessed are we to have a king like you! Indeed you are Bhagavan Himself incarnate. Your words and actions are a constant inspiration to all citizens whose greatest fortune is to be ruled by you!"
नमो विवृद्धसत्त्वाय पुरुषाय महीयसे । यो ब्रह्म क्षत्रमाविश्य बिभर्तीदं स्वतेजसा ॥
T:" Obeisances to you, oh King Prithu, with all goodness fully manifested in you and of supreme glory. It is Brahman/Bhagavan Himself who has come as you, the great Rajarshi, to rule over this kingdom!"
