882 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 21

levy taxes from them; businessmen or mercantile men, because they
produce foodstuffs for the whole of society, can take a little profit from
this, whereas the sudras, who cannot work as either brahmanas, ksatriyas
or vaisyas, should give service to the higher classes of society and be
provided by them with a supply of the necessities of life.

The symptom of a qualified king or political leader is mentioned
herein—he must be very merciful and compassionate to the people and
see to their prime interest, which is to become elevated devotees of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Great souls are naturally inclined to
do good to others, and a Vaisnava especially is the most compassionate
and merciful personality in society. Therefore we offer our respects to
a Vaisnava leader as follows:

vaiicha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

Only a Vaisnava leader can fulfill all the desires of the people (vafcha-
kalpataru), and he is compassionate because he is the contributor of the
greatest benefit to human society. He is patita-pavana, the deliverer of
all fallen souls, because if the king or the head of the government follows
in the footsteps of the brahmanas and Vaisnavas, who are naturally
leaders in missionary work, similarly the vaisyas will also follow in the
footsteps of the Vaisnavas and brahmanas, and the siidras will give them
service. Thus the entire society becomes a perfect human institution for
combined progress to the highest perfection of life.

TEXT 51

TT AMAA: UAT: TAT |
areal avedtat aafatadfead: 114211

adya nas tamasah paras
tvayopasaditah prabho

bhramyatam nasta-drstinam
karmabhir daiva-samjiitaih

adya—today; nah—of us; tamasah—of the darkness of material existence;
parah—other side; tuaya—by you; upasaditah—increased; prabho—O lord;
bhramyatam—who are wandering; nasta-drstinam—who have lost their
goal of life; karmabhih—on account of past deeds; daiva-samjritaih—
arranged by superior authority.
