Text 5] The Harnsa-guhya Prayers 193

sri-Sukah uvaca—Sukadeva Gosvami said; yadaé—when: pra-
cetasah—the Pracetés; putrah—the sons; dasa—ten; prdcina-
barhisah—of King Pracinabarhi; antah-samudrat—from within the
ocean; unmagnadh—emerged; dadrsuh—they saw; gam—the entire
planet; drumaih vrtam—covered with trees.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvami said: When the ten sons of Pracinabarhi
emerged from the waters, in which they were performing
austerities, they saw that the entire surface of the world was
covered by trees.

PURPORT

When King Pracinabarhi was performing Vedic rituals in which the
killing of animals was recommended, Narada Muni, out of compassion,
advised him to stop. Pracinabarhi understood Narada properly and then
left the kingdom to perform austerities in the forest. His ten sons,
however, were performing austerities within the water, and therefore
there was no king to see to the management of the world. When the ten
sons, the Pracetaés, came out of the water, they saw that the earth was
overrun with trees.

When the government neglects agriculture, which is necessary for the
production of food, the land becomes covered with unnecessary trees. Of
course, many trees are useful because they produce fruits and flowers,
but many other trees are unnecessary. They could be used as fuel and the
land cleared and used for agriculture. When the government is
negligent, less grain is produced. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.44),
krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhdva-jam: the proper
engagements for vaisyas, according to their nature, are to farm and to
protect cows. The duty of the government and the ksatriyas is to see that
the members of the third class, the vaisyas, who are neither brahmanas
nor ksatriyas, are thus properly engaged. Ksatriyas are meant to protect
human beings, whereas vaisyas are meant to protect useful animals.
especially cows.

TEXT 5

Aa: Hea TAHT: |
wan Tae a wWefowT I I
