Description of Autumn 137

Clouds are accumulated water drawn from the land by the sunshine.
Continually for eight months the sun evaporates all kinds of water from
the surface of the globe, and this water is accumulated in the shape of
clouds, which are distributed as water when there is need. Similarly, a
government exacts various taxes from the citizens which the citizens are
able to pay by their different material activities: agriculture, trade and
industry; thus the government can also exact taxes in the form of income
tax and sales tax. This is compared to the sun drawing water from the
earth. When there is again need of water on the surface of the globe, the
same sunshine converts the water into clouds and distributes it all over the
slobe. Similarly, the taxes collected by the government must be dis-
tributed to the people again, as educational work, public work, sanitary
work, etc. This is very essential for a good government. The government
should not simply exact tax for useless squandering; the tax collection
should be utilized for the public welfare of the state.

During the rainy season, there are strong winds blustering all over the
country and carrying clouds from one place to another to distribute water.
When water is urgently needed after the summer season, the clouds are
just like a rich man who, in times of need, distributes his money even by
exhausting his whole treasury. So the clouds exhaust themselves by
distributing water all over the surface of the globe.

When Maharaja Dagaratha, the father of Lord Ramacandra, used to
fight with his enemies, it was said that he approached them just like a
farmer uprooting unnecessary plants and trees. And when there was need
of giving charity, he used to distribute money exactly as the cloud
distributes rain. The distribution of rain by clouds is so sumptuous that
it is compared to the distribution of wealth by a great, munificent person.
The clouds’ downpour is so sufficient that the rains even fall on rocks and
hills and on the oceans and seas where there is no need for water. It is
like a charitable person who opens his treasury for distribution and who
does not discriminate whether the charity is needed or not. He gives in
charity openhanded.

Before the rainfall, the whole surface of the globe becomes almost
depleted of all kinds of energies and appears very lean. After the rainfall,
the whole surface of the earth becomes green with vegetation and appears
to be very healthy and strong. Here, a comparison is made with the person
undergoing austerities for fulfillment of a material desire. The flourishing
condition of the earth after a rainy season is compared with the fulfillment
of material desires. Sometimes, when a country is subjected by an un-
desirable government, persons and parties undergo severe penances and
