Text 24] Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Maharaja 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 represen-
tative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is called nara-narayana,
indicating that Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in
human society as the king. It is etiquette that neither a brahmana nor a
ksatriya 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-devatas; therefore, it was con-
cluded that his sinful activities were very grievous.

TEXT 24

TATE H TAL FATAL AZ |
ATA AT ST Waray: levi!

etad akhyahi me brahman
sunithatmaja-cestitam

$raddadhanaya bhaktaya
tvam pardvara-vittamaht

etat—all these; akhyahi—please describe; me—unto me; brahman—O
great brahmana; sunithd-atmaja—ef the son of Sunitha, Vena; cestitam—
activities; sraddadhanaya—faithful; bhaktaya—unto your devotee; tvam—
you; para-avara—with past and future; vit-tamah—well conversant.

TRANSLATION

Vidura requested Maitreya: My dear brahmana, 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. Srila Vigvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura 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
