950 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22

TRANSLATION

Since only a person who is completely educated according to the
principles of Vedic knowledge deserves to be commander-in-chief, ruler
of the state, the first to chastise and the proprietor of the whole planet,
Prthu Maharaja offered everything to the Kumaras.

PURPORT

In this verse it is very clearly stated that a kingdom, state or empire
must be governed under the instructions of saintly persons and brahmanas
like the Kumaras. When monarchy ruled throughout the world, the
monarch was actually directed by a board of brahmanas and saintly persons.
The king, as the administrator of the state, executed his duties as a servant
of the brahmanas. It was not that the kings or brahmanas were dictators,
nor did they consider themselves proprietors of the state. The kings were
also well versed in Vedic literatures and thus were familiar with the injunc-
tion of Sri Isopanisad: isavasyam idam sarvam—everything that exists
belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita Lord
Krsna also claims that He is the proprietor of all planetary systems
(sarva-loka-mahesvaram). Since this is the case, no one can claim to be
proprietor of the state. The king, president or head of the state should
always remember that he is not the proprietor but the servant.

In the present age, the king or president forgets that he is the servant
of God and thinks of himself as servant of the people. The present
democratic government is proclaimed to be a people’s government, a
government by the people and for the people, but this type of government
is not sanctioned by the Vedas. The Vedas maintain that a kingdom should
be governed for the purpose of satisfying the Supreme Personality of God-
head and should therefore be ruled by a representative of the Lord. The
head of a state should not be appointed if he is bereft of all Vedic knowl-
edge. In this verse it is clearly stated (veda-sastra-vid arhati) that all high
government posts are especially meant for persons who are well conversant
with the teachings of the Vedas. In the Vedas there are definite instructions
defining how aking, commander-in-chief, soldier and citizen should behave.
Unfortunately there are many so-called philosophers in the present age
who give instruction without citing authority, and many leaders follow
their unauthorized instruction. Consequently people are not happy.

The modern theory of dialectic communism, set forth by Karl Marx
and followed by communist governments, is not perfect. According to
Vedic communism, no one in the state should ever starve. Presently there
