26 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 9, Ch. 9
(pararn brahma param dhdma pavitram paramam bhavan). Because
this brahmana was actually qualified and was also engaged in brahmini-
cal activities (brahma-karma), killing him would be a greatly sinful act,
and the bradhmana’s wife requested that he not be killed.
TEXT 30
° 8
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so ’yam brahmarsi-varyas te
rajarsi-pravarad vibho
katham arhati dharma-jna
vadham pitur ivatmajah
sah—he, the brahmana; ayam—this; brahma-rsi-varyah—not only a
brahmana but the best of great sages, or brahmarsis; te—also from you;
raja-rsi-pravarat—who are the best of all saintly kings, or rdjarsis;
vibho—O master of the state; katham—how; arhati—he deserves;
dharma-jna—O you, who are quite aware of religious principles;
vadham—killing; pituh—from the father; iva—like; dtmajah—the
son.
TRANSLATION
My lord, you are completely aware of the religious principles. As
a son never deserves to be killed by his father, here is a brahmana
who should be protected by the king, and never killed. How does
he deserve to be killed by a rajarsi like you?
PURPORT
The word rdjarsi refers to a king who behaves like a rsi, or sage. Such
a king is also called naradeva because he is considered a representative
of the Supreme Lord. Because his duty is to rule the kingdom to maintain
brahminical culture, he never desires to kill a bradhmana. Generally, a
brahmana, woman, child, old man or cow is never regarded as punish-
able. Thus the wife of the brahmana requested the King to refrain from
this sinful act.
