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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 16]
TEXT 16
दृढव्रतः सत्यसन्धो ब्रह्मण्यो वृद्धसेवकः । शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां मानदो दीनवत्सलः ॥१६॥
dṛḍha-vrataḥ satya-sandho brahmaṇyo vṛddha-sevakaḥ śaraṇyaḥ sarva-bhūtānām mānado dīna-vatsalaḥ
dṛḍha-vrataḥ—firmly determined; satya-sandhaḥ—always situated in truth; brahmaṇyaḥ—a lover of the brahminical culture; vṛddha-sevakaḥ—a servitor of the old men; śaraṇyaḥ—to be taken shelter of; sarva-bhūtānām—of all living entities; māna-daḥ—one who gives respect to all; dīna-vatsalaḥ—very kind to the poor and helpless.
TRANSLATION
The King will be firmly determined and always situated in truth. He will be a lover of the brahminical culture and will render all service to old men and give shelter to all surrendered souls. Giving respect to all, he will always be merciful to the poor and innocent.
PURPORT
The word  vṛddha-sevakaḥ  is very significant.  Vṛddha  means “old men.” There are two kinds of old men: one is old by age, and another is old by knowledge. This Sanskrit word indicates that one can be older by the advancement of knowledge. King Pṛthu was very respectful to the  brāhmaṇas , and he protected them. He also protected persons advanced in age. Whatever the King would decide to do, no one would be able to stop. That is called  dṛḍha-saṅkalpa  or  dṛḍha-vrata .
TEXT 17
मातृभक्तिः परस्त्रीषु पत्न्यामर्ध इवात्मनः । प्रजासु पितृवत्स्निग्धः किङ्करो ब्रह्मवादिनाम् ॥१७॥
mātṛ-bhaktiḥ para-strīṣu patnyām ardha ivātmanaḥ prajāsu pitṛvat snigdhaḥ kiṅkaro brahma-vādinām