Le Cow Quote Du Jour # 119

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TRANSLATION

Thereafter the power of protection was generated from the arms of the

gigantic virat form, and in relation to such power the ksatriyas also came

into existence by following the ksatriya principle of protecting society

from the disturbance of thieves and miscreants.

 

PURPORT

As the brahmanas are recognized by their particular qualification of

inclination towards the transcendental knowledge of Vedic wisdom, so also

the ksatriyas are recognized by the power to protect society from the

disturbing elements of thieves and miscreants. The word anuvratah is

significant. A person who follows the ksatriya principles by protecting

society from thieves and miscreants is called a ksatriya, not the one who is

simply born a ksatriya. The conception of the caste system is always based

on quality and not on the qualification of birth. Birth is an extraneous

consideration; it is not the main feature of the orders and divisions. In

Bhagavad-gita (18.41-44) the qualifications of the brahmanas, ksatriyas,

vaisyas and sudras are specifically mentioned, and it is understood that all

such qualifications are needed before one can be designated as belonging to

a particular group.

 

Lord Visnu is always mentioned as the purusa in all Vedic scriptures.

Sometimes the living entities are also mentioned as purusas, although they

are essentially purusa-sakti (para sakti or para prakrti), the superior

energy of the purusa. Illusioned by the external potency of the purusa (the

Lord), the living entities falsely think of themselves as the purusa

although they actually have no qualifications. The Lord has the power to

protect. Of the three deities Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara, the first has the

power to create, the second has the power to protect, and the third has the

power to destroy. The word purusa is significant in this verse because the

ksatriyas are expected to represent the purusa Lord in giving protection to

the prajas, or all those who are born in the land and water. Protection is

therefore meant for both man and the animals. in modern society the prajas

are not protected from the hands of thieves and miscreants. The modern

democratic state, which has no ksatriyas, is a government of the vaisyas and

sudras, and not of brahmanas and ksatriyas as formerly. Maharaja Yudhisthira

and his grandson, Maharaja Pariksit, were typical ksatriya kings, for they

gave protection to all men and animals. When the personification of Kali

attempted to kill a cow, Maharaja Pariksit at once prepared himself to kill

the miscreant, and the personification of Kali was banished from his

kingdom. That is the sign of purusa, or the representative of Lord Visnu.

According to Vedic civilization, a qualified ksatriya monarch is given the

respect of the Lord because he represents the Lord by giving protection to

the prajas. Modern elected presidents cannot even give protection from theft

cases, and therefore one has to take protection from an insurance company.

The problems of modern human society are due to the lack of qualified

brahmanas and ksatriyas and the overinfluence of the vaisyas and sudras by

so-called general franchise.

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 3.6.31