356 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 10

of human life; therefore he regretted his insulting words to Jada
Bharata, and he immediately descended from his palanquin and fell
down at the lotus feet of Jada Bharata in order to be excused and to hear
from him further about the values of life known as brahma-jijnidsa (in-
quiry into the Absolute Truth). At the present moment, high govern-
ment officials are ignorant of the values of life, and when saintly persons
endeavor to broadcast the Vedic knowledge, the so-called executives do
not offer their respectful obeisances but try to obstruct the spiritual
propaganda. Thus one can say that the former kingly government was
like heaven and that the present government is like hell.

TEXT 16

aed faqeaa faarat

frafi at | HaISTIT |
PAA FAT FAT BAT

aay aaatt at De: eal

kas tvam nigitidhas carasi dvijanam
bibharsi sitrarn katamo ’vadhiitah

kasydsi kutratya ihapi kasmat
ksemaya nas ced asi nota suklah

kah tuam—who are you; nigtidhah—very much covered; carasi—you
move within this world; dvijanam—among the brahmanas or saintly
persons; bibharsi—you also wear; siittram—the sacred thread belonging
to the first-class brahmanas; katamah—which; avadhitah—highly ele-
vated person; kasya asi—whose are you (whose disciple or son are you);
kutratyah—from where; iha api—here in this place; kasmat—for what
purpose; ksemaya—for the benefit; nah—of us; cet—if; asi—you are;
na uta—or not; suklah—the personality of the pure mode of goodness
(Kapiladeva).

TRANSLATION

King Rahugana said: O brahmana, you appear to be moving in
this world very much covered and unknown to others. Who are
