968 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22

kuvera iva kosadhyo
guptartho varuno yatha

dharma-rat iva—like King Yamaraja (the superintendent of death);
siksayam—in education; ascarye—in opulence; himavan iva—like the
Himalayan Mountains; kuverah—the treasurer of the heavenly planets;
iva—like; kosa-adhyah—in the matter of possessing wealth; gupta-arthah—
secrecy; varunah— the demigod named Varuna; yatha— like.

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Prthu’s intelligence and education were exactly like that of
Yamaraja, the superintendent of death. His opulence was comparable to the
Himalayan Mountains, where all valuable jewels and metals are stocked.
He possessed great riches like Kuvera, the treasurer of the heavenly
planets, and no one could reveal his secrets, for they were like the demigod
Varuna’s.

PURPORT

Yamaraja or Dharmaraja, as the superintendent of death, has to judge
the criminal living entities who have committed sinful activities throughout
their lives. Consequently Yamaraja is expected to be most expert in
judicial matters. Prthu Maharaja was also highly learned and exceedingly
exact in delivering his judgment upon the citizens. No one could excel
him in opulence any more than estimate the stock of minerals and jewels
in the Himalayan Mountains; therefore he is compared to Kuvera, the
treasurer of the heavenly planets. Nor could anyone discover the secrets
of his life any more than learn the secrets of Varuna, the demigod presiding
over the water, the night, and the western sky. Varuna is omniscient, and
since he punishes sins, he is prayed to for forgiveness. He is also the sender
of disease and is often associated with Mitra and Indra.

TEXT 60

maha AAA TSA ARatTAT |
afvaan at ara, qaafer l€ell

matarisveva sarvatma
balena mahasaujasa

avisahyataya devo
bhagavan bhuta-rad iva
