Text 24] Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
563
of his prowess, the king is always more influential than all other ruling chiefs.
PURPORT
According to Vedic civilization the king is supposed to be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is called  nara-nārāyaṇa , indicating that Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in human society as the king. It is etiquette that neither a  brāhmaṇa  nor a  kṣatriya  king is ever insulted by the citizens; even though a king appears to be sinful, the citizens should not insult him. But in the case of Vena it appears that he was cursed by the  nara-devatās ; therefore, it was concluded that his sinful activities were very grievous.
TEXT 24
एतदाख्याहि मे ब्रह्मन् सुनीथात्यजषेष्टितम् । 
    श्रद्धानाय भक्ताय त्वं परावरवित्तमः ॥२४॥
etad ākhyāhi me brahman 
    sunīthātmaja-ceṣṭitam 
    śraddadhānāya bhaktāya 
    tvam parāvara-vittamaḥ
etat—all these; ākhyāhi—please describe; me—unto me; brahman—O great brāhmaṇa; sunīthā-ātmaja—●f the son of Sunīthā, Vena; ceṣṭitam—activities; śraddadhānāya—faithful; bhaktāya—unto your devotee; tvam—you; para-avara—with past and future; vit-tamaḥ—well conversant.
TRANSLATION
Vidura requested Maitreya: My dear brāhmaṇa, you are well conversant with all subjects, both past and future. Therefore I wish to hear from you all the activities of King Vena. I am your faithful devotee, so please explain this.
PURPORT
Vidura accepted Maitreya as his spiritual master. A disciple always inquires from the spiritual master, and the spiritual master answers the question, provided the disciple is very gentle and devoted. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Thākura said that by the mercy of the spiritual master one is benedicted with the mercy of the Supreme Lord. The spiritual master is not inclined to disclose all the secrets of transcendental science unless the