852 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 21

forests to practice the killing art because without such practice they would
not be able to kill the undesirable elements. Ksatriyas are allowed to
commit violence in that way because violence for a good purpose is a part
of their duty. Here two terms are clearly mentioned: vadhaya, for the
purpose of killing, and asatam, those who are undesirable. The protecting
energy of the king is supposed to be the energy of the Supreme Lord. In
Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 4.8) the Lord says, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca
duskrtam. The Lord descends to give protection to the pious and to kill
the demons. The potency, therefore, to give protection to the pious and
kill the demons or undesirables is directly an energy from the Supreme
Lord, and the king or the chief executive of the state is supposed to possess
such energy. In this age it is very difficult to find such a head of state who
is expert in killing the undesirables. Modern heads of state sit very nicely
in their palaces and try without reason to kill innocent persons.

TEXT 51

TseaaeaTA TTT |
SUT UT ATTA TH VHT AAA: 142

yo ‘rkendv-agnindra-vayiinam
yama-dharma-pracetasam
ripani sthana adhatse
tasmai Suklaya te namah

yahh—you who; arka—of the sun; indu—of the moon; agni—of Agni, the
fire-god; indra—of Indra, the lord of heaven; vayiinam—of Vayu, the wind-
god; yama—of Yama, the god of punishment; dharma—of Dharma, the
god of piety; pracetasam—and of Varuna, the god of the waters; ripani—
the forms; sthane—when necessary ;ddhatse—you assume;tasmai—unto Him;
suklaya—unto Lord Visnu; te—unto you; namah—obeisances.

TRANSLATION

You assume, when necessary, the part of the sun-god; the moon-god;
Agni, the god of fire; Indra, the lord of paradise; Vayu, the wind-god;
Yama, the god of punishment; Dharma, the god of piety; and Varuna, the
god presiding over the waters. All obeisances to you, who are none other
than Lord Visnu!
