Text 17]
The Story of King Vena
595
PURPORT
Formerly, in practically all parts of the world, there were monarchies, but gradually as monarchy declined from the ideal life of religion to the godless life of sense gratification, monarchies all over the world were abolished. However, simply abolishing monarchy and replacing it with democracy is not sufficient unless the government men are religious and follow the footsteps of great religious personalities.
TEXT 17
राजकशचयात्येभ्यशेरादिभ्यः प्रजा नृपः । रक्षन् यथा बलिं गृहन्निह प्रेत्य च मोदते ॥१७॥
rājann asādhv-amātyebhyaś corādibhyaḥ prajā nṛpaḥ rakṣan yathā baliṁ gṛhṇann iha pretya ca modate
rājan—O King; asādhu—mischievous; amātyebhyaḥ—from ministers; corā- ādibhyaḥ—from thieves and rogues; prajāḥ—the citizens; nṛpaḥ—the king; rakṣan—protecting; yathā—accordingly as; baliṁ—taxes; gṛhṇan—accepting; iha—in this world; pretya—after death; ca—also; modate—enjoys.
TRANSLATION
The saintly persons continued: When the king protects the citizens from the disturbances of mischievous ministers as well as from thieves and rogues, he can, by virtue of such pious activities, accept taxes given by his subjects. Thus a pious king can certainly enjoy himself in this world as well as in the life after death.
PURPORT
The duty of a pious king is described very nicely in this verse. His first and foremost duty is to give protection to the citizens from thieves and rogues as well as from ministers who are no better than thieves and rogues. Formerly, ministers were appointed by the king and were not elected. Consequently, if the king was not very pious or strict, the ministers would become thieves and rogues and exploit the innocent citizens. It is the king's duty to see that there is no increase of thieves and rogues either in