Text 23] Instructions by Maharaja Prthu 837
TRANSLATION

Maharaja Prthu said: I think that upon the execution of my duties as
king, I shall be able to achieve the desirable objectives described by ex-
perts in Vedic knowledge. This destination is certainly achieved by the
pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the seer of all
destiny.

PURPORT

Maharaja Prthu gives special stress to the word brahma-vadinah (“by the
experts in the Vedic knowledge”). Brahma refers to the Vedas, which are
also known as sabda-brahma, or transcendental sound. Transcendental
sound is not ordinary language, although it appears to be written in
ordinary language. Evidence from the Vedic literature should be accepted
as final authority. In the Vedic literature there is much information, and
of course there is information about the execution of a king’s duty. A
responsible king who executes his appointed duty by giving proper pro-
tection to all living entities on his planet is promoted to the heavenly
planetary system. This is also dependent upon the pleasure of the Supreme
Lord. Jt is not that if one executes his duty properly he is automatically
promoted, for promotion depends upon the satisfaction of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. It must ultimately be concluded that one can
achieve the desired result of his activities upon satisfying the Supreme
Lord. This is also confirmed in the Second Chapter, First Canto, of
Srimad-Bhagavatam:

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha
varnasrama-vibhagasah

svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam.

The perfection of one’sexecution of his appointed duties is the ultimate
satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. The word kama-sandohah means
“achievement of the desired result.” Everyone desires to achieve the ulti-
mate goal of life, but in modern civilization the great scientists think that
man’s life has no plan. This gross ignorance is very dangerous and makes
civilization very risky. People do not know the laws of nature, which are
the rulings of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because they are
atheists of the first order, they have no faith in the existence of God and
His rulings and therefore do not know how nature is working. This gross
ignorance of the mass of people, including even the so-called scientists
