200 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 4

TEXT 11
antaga aat ant ad aaa Zftaq |
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Gtisthata satam margam
kopam yacchata dipitam
pitra pitamahenapi
justam vah prapitamahaih

atisthata—just follow; satam margam—the path of the great saintly
personalities; kopam—the anger; yacchata—subdue: dipitam—which
is now awakened; pitra—by the father; pitamahena api—and by the
grandfather; justam—executed; vah—your; prapitamahaih—by the
great-grandfathers.
TRANSLATION

The path of goodness traversed by your father, grandfather and
great-grandfathers is that of maintaining the subjects [prajas], in-
cluding the men, animals and trees. That is the path you should
follow. Unnecessary anger is contrary to your duty. Therefore I
request you to control your anger.

PURPORT

Here the words pitra pitamahenapi justam vah prapitamahaih depict
an honest royal family, consisting of the kings, their father, their grand-
father and their great-grandfathers. Such a royal family has a prestigious
position because it maintains the citizens, or prajas. The word praja
refers to one who has taken birth within the jurisdiction of the govern-
ment. The exalted royal families were conscious that all living beings,
whether human, animal or lower than animal, should be given protec-
tion. The modern democratic system cannot be exalted in this way be-
cause the leaders elected strive only for power and have no sense of re-
sponsibility. In a monarchy, a king with a prestigious position follows the
great deeds of his forefathers. Thus Soma, the king of the moon, here
reminds the Pracetas about the glories of their father, grandfather and
great-grandfathers.
