644 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 16
PURPORT
The duty of the king or the head of the government is described very
nicely in this verse. It is the duty of the governmental head to see that
people strictly follow a religious life. A king should also be strict in chastis-
ing the atheists. In other words, an atheistic or godless government should
never be supported by a king or governmental chief. That is the test of
good government. In the name of secular government, the king or govern-
mental head remains neutral and allows people to engage in all sorts of ir-
religious activities. In such a state people cannot be happy despite all eco-
nomic development. However, in this age of Kali there are no pious kings.
Instead, rogues and thieves are elected to head the government. But how
can the people be happy without religion and God consciousness? The
rogues exact taxes from the citizens for their own sense enjoyment, and
in the future the people will be so much harassed that according to
Srimad-Bhdagavatam they will flee from their homes and country and take
shelter in the forest. However, in Kali-yuga, democratic government can
be captured by Krsna conscious people. If this can be done, the general
populace can be made very happy.
TEXT 5
A 8 °
aq a seer Rackaaat a4 |
MS BS TAMATT sea oaaferq | 4 I
esa vai loka-palanam
bibharty ekas tanau tantih
kale kale yatha-bhagam
lokayor ubhayor hitam
esah—this King; vai—certainly; loka-palanam—of all the demigods;
bibharti—bears; ekah—alone; tanau—in his body; tanuh—the bodies; kale
kale—in due course of time; yathd—according to; bhagam—proper share;
lokayoh—of planetary systems; ubhayoh—both; hitam—welfare.
TRANSLATION
This King alone, in his own body, will be able in due course of time to
maintain all living entities and keep them in a pleasant condition by mani-
festing himself as different demigods to perform various departmental
activities. Thus he will maintain the upper planetary system by inducing
