SB 1.18.33 (1965)

SB (1965) Eighteenth Chapter - Maharaj Parikshit Cursed By A Brahmin Boy

SB 1.18.32 (1965) - SB 1.18.34 (1965)

Compare Versions: SB 1965 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT No. 33

Aho adhannah palanam pleebam balibhujam iba Swamini agham yad dasanam dwarpanam sunamiva.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Aho—just look at, Adharmah—irreligiosity, Palanam-of the rulers, Pleebam—of one who is brought up, Balibnujam—like the crows, Swamini—unto the master, Sunam—of the dogs, Iba—like, Agham—sin, Yad—what is, Dasanam—of the servants, Dwarpanam—keeping watch at the door.

TRANSLATION

Oh just look at the sins of the rulers who are verily brought up like the crows and watch dogs at the door, on the masters against the principle of servants.

PURPORT

The Brahmins are considered to be the head and brain of the social body and the Kshatriyas are considered to be the arms of the social body. The arms are required to protect the body from all harms but the arms must act according to the direction of the head and brain. That is a natural arrangement made by the Supreme order and it is confirmed in the Bhagwat Geeta that four orders or castes of the society namely the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas the Vaishyas and the Sudras according to quality and work done by them. Naturally the son of a Brahmin has a good chance of becoming a Brahmin by the direction of the qualified father as much as the son of a medial practitioner has very good chance for becoming a qualified medical practitioner. So the caste system is quite scientific but it has special connection with the quality of the father. The son must take advantage of the father's qualification and thus become a Brahmin or medical practitioner and not otherwise. Without being qualified like the father nobody can become a Brahmin or medical practitioner and that is the verdict of all scriptures and social orders. Herein Sringee the qualified son of a great Brahmin attained the required Brahminical power both by birth and training but he was lacking in culture because he was a boy and inexperienced. By the influence of Kali the son of a Brahmin became puffed up with the Brahminical power and thus wrongly considered Maharaj Parikshit compared with crows and the watchdogs. The Kings are certainly watch dogs of the state in a sense that they keep vigilant eyes over border of the state for its protection and defence but to address him as watchdog is the sign of a less cultured boy. Thus the fall down of the Brahminical powers began and they gave importance on the birth right without any culture. The fall down of the Brahmin caste began in the age of Kali. And as the Brahmins are the head of the social order, all other of the society also began to deteriorate in qualities and they remained so called Brahmins and Kshatriyas without any qualitative efficiency. This beginning of deterioration of the Brahmins was highly deplored by the father of Sringhee as we will find it hereinafter.

(Compare SB 1.18.33 Current Edition)

SB 1.18.32 (1965) - SB 1.18.34 (1965)