Text 9] The Characteristics of King Purafijana 1143
person who helps, the person who purchases the meat, the person who
cooks the flesh and the person who eats it, all become entangled in the
killing. Narada Muni wanted to draw the King’s attention to this fact. Thus
animal killing is not encouraged even in a sacrifice.
TEXT 9
wa a wahasghtard gaaay |
gee ata frat aet aii sil
atra te kathayisye ‘mum
itihdsam purdtanam
puraiijanasya caritam
nibodha gadato mama
atra—herewith; te—unto you; kathayisye—I shall speak; amum—on this
subject matter; itihasam—history; puratanam—very old; purafjanasya—in
the matter of Purarijana; caritam—his character; nibodha—try to under-
stand; gadatah mama—while I am speaking.
TRANSLATION
In this connection I wish to narrate an old history connected with the
character of a king called Purafijana. Please try to hear me with great
attention.
PURPORT
The great sage Narada Muni turned toward another topic—the history of
King Puranjana. This is nothing but the history of King Pracinabarhisat
told in a different way. In other words, this is an allegorical presentation.
The word purafijana means ‘“‘one who enjoys in a body.” This is clearly
explained in the next few chapters. Because a person entangled in material
activities wants to hear stories of material activities, Narada Muni turned
to the topics of King Purafijana, who is none other than King
Pracinabarhisat. Narada Muni did not, however, deprecate the value of
performing sacrifices in which animals are sacrificed. Lord Buddha, how-
ever, directly rejected all animal sacrifice. Srila Jayadeva Gosvami has
stated: nindasi yajiia-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam. The word Sruti-jatam indi-
cates that in the Vedas animal sacrifice is recommended, but Lord Buddha
directly denied Vedic authority in order to stop animal sacrifice. Conse-
quently Lord Buddha is not accepted by the followers of the Vedas.
