Text 47] — Prthu Maharaja’s Meeting with the Four Kumaras 953

ality of Godhead. They eat only prasdda, or remnants of the food offered
to the Lord. The ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras should eat only Krsna-
prasadam, which is afforded them by the mercy of the brahmanas. They
cannot open slaughterhouses and eat meat, fish or eggs, or drink liquor, or
earn money for this purpose without authorization. In the present age, be-
cause society is not guided by brahminical instruction, the whole popula-
tion is only absorbed in sinful activities. Consequently everyone is de-
servedly being punished by the laws of nature. This is the situation in this

age of Kali. TEXT 47
atest wad afraHare
Merete ferrets eI AT A: |
TIAATVN: AHA eT
Bam ceafaaata aeTAT lvl!

yair idrsi bhagavato gatir atma-vada
ekantato nigamibhih pratipadita nah

tusyantv adabhra-karunah sva-krtena nityam
ko nama tat pratikaroti vinoda-patram

yaih—by those; idrsi—such kind of; bhagavatah—of the Supreme Person-
ality of Godhead; gatih—progress; atma-vade—spiritual consideration;
ekantatah—in complete understanding; nigamibhih—by Vedic evidences;
pratipadita—conclusively established; nah—unto us; tusyantu—be satisfied;
adabhra—unlimited; karunah—mercy; sva-krtena—by your own activity;
nityam—eternal; kah—who; nama—no one; tat—that; pratikaroti—counter-
acts; vina—without; uda-patram—offering of water in cupped hands.

TRANSLATION

Prthu Maharaja continued: How can such persons, who have rendered
unlimited service by explaining the path of self-realization in relation to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, and whose explanations are given for our
enlightenment with complete conviction and Vedic evidence, be repaid
except by folded palms containing water for their satisfaction? Such great
personalities can be satisfied only by their own activities, which are dis-
tributed amongst human society out of their unlimited mercy.

PURPORT

Great personalities of the material world are very eager to render
welfare service to human society, but actually no one can render better
