884 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 21
are glorified by your own prowess, and thus you are maintaining the
entire world by introducing brahminical culture and protecting everyone
in your line of duty as a ksatriya.
PURPORT

Without the spread of brahminical culture and without proper protec-
tion from the government no social standard can be maintained properly.
This is admitted in this verse by the citizens of Maharaja Prthu, who
could maintain the wonderful situation of his government due to his
position in pure goodness. The word vivrddha-sattvaya is significant. In
the material world there are three qualities— namely, goodness, passion
and ignorance. One has to be raised from the platform of ignorance
to the platform of goodness by devotional service. There is no other
means for elevating one from the lowest stage of life to the highest
stage but the execution of devotional service; as advised in the previous
chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one can raise himself from the lowest
position to the highest simply by associating with devotees and hearing
Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly from their mouths.

$rnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho hy abhadrani vidhunoti su-hrt satam
(Bhag. 1.2.17)

“When one engages in devotional service in the first stages of hearing
and chanting, the Lord who is in everyone’s heart helps the devotee in
cleansing his heart.” In the gradual cleansing process one is relieved of the
influence of passion and ignorance and is situated on the platform of
goodness. The result of association with the qualities of passion and
ignorance is that one becomes lusty and greedy. But when one is elevated
to the platform of goodness, he is satisfied in any condition of life and is
without lust and greed. This mentality indicates one’s situation on the
platform of goodness. One has to transcend this goodness and raise
himself to the pure goodness which is called vivrddha-sattva or the
advanced stage of goodness. In the advanced stage of goodness one can
become Krsna conscious. Therefore Maharaja Prthu is addressed here as
vivrddha-sattva, or one who is situated in the transcendental position.
But Maharaja Prthu, although situated in the transcendental position of a
pure devotee, comes down to the position of brahmana and ksatriya for
the benefit of human society and thus gives protection to the entire
world by his personal prowess. Although he was a king, a ksatriya,
