Cow Quote #26

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SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM -Canto 4 Ch.17 text 9

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, at the time King Påthu

was enthroned by the great sages and brähmaëas and declared to be the

protector of the citizens, there was a scarcity of food grains. The citizens

actually became skinny due to starvation. Therefore they came before the

King and informed him of their real situation.

PURPORT

Information is given herein concerning the selection of the king by the

brähmaëas. According to the varëäçrama system, the brähmaëas are considered

to be the heads of the society and therefore to be situated in the topmost

social position. The varëäçrama-dharma, the institution of four varëas and

four äçramas, is very scientifically designed. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä,

varëäçrama-dharma is not a man-made institution, but is God-made. In this

narration it is clearly indicated that the brähmaëas used to control the

royal power. When an evil king like Vena ruled, the brähmaëas would kill him

through their brahminical powers and would select a proper ruler by testing

his qualifications. In other words, the brähmaëas, the intelligent men or

great sages, would control the monarchical powers. Here we have an

indication of how the brähmaëas elected King Påthu to the throne as the

protector of the citizens. The citizens, being skinny due to hunger,

approached the King and informed him that necessary action should be taken.

The structure of the varëäçrama-dharma; was so nice that the brähmaëas would

guide the head of state. The head of state would then give protection to the

citizens. The kñatriyas would take charge of protecting the people in

general, and under the protection of the kñatriyas, the vaiçyas would

protect the cows, produce food grains and distribute them. Çüdras, the

working class, would help the higher three classes by manual labor. This is

the perfect social system.