SB 1.19.3 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 3
Adya eva rajyam valamriddha kosham Prakopita brahmakula anale me Dahatu abhadrasya punar na me abhut Papiyasi dheer dwija deva gobhyah
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Adya—this day, eva—on the very, Rajyam—kingdom, Valam-riddha—strength and the riches, Kosham—treasury, Prakopita—ignited by, Brahmakula—by the Brahmin-community, Anala—fire, Me Dahatu—let it burn, Abhadrasya—inauspiciousness, Punar—again, Na—not, Me—unto me, Abhut—may occur, Papiyasi—sinful, Dheer—intelligence, Dwija—Brahmins, Deva—the Supreme Lord, Gobhyah—and the cows.
TRANSLATION
Because I am uncivilized and sinful on account of my obstructive intelligence towards brahminical culture, God-consciousness and protection of cows, therefore I wish that my kingdom full with strength and opulence may immediately be burnt up by the fire of wrath of the Brahmin that in future, I may not be conducted in such inauspicious intelligence.
PURPORT
Progressive human civilization is based on three principal advancement of knowledge namely brahminical culture, God consciousness and protection of cows. All economic development of the state by trade, commerce, agriculture and industries, must be fully utilised in the matter of above principles otherwise all the so called economic development, becomes the source of degraded civilization. Cow protection means feeding the Brahminical culture which leads towards God-consciousness and thus perfection of human civilization achieved. The age of Kali aims at killing the above higher principles of life and although Maharaj Parikshit strongly resisted the domination of the personality of Kali within the world, the influence of the age of Kali infiltrated in an opportune moment and even a strong king like Maharaj Parikshit was induced to disregard the Brahminical culture by slight provocation of hunger and thirst. Maharaj Parikshit lamented the accidental incidence and he desired that all his kingdom strength and accumulation of wealth may be burnt up for not being engaged in the above mentioned three cultural affairs.
Providentially also where wealth and strength are not engaged in the advancement of Brahminical culture, God consciousness and cow protection, such state or home is surely doomed. If we want at all peace and prosperity in the world, we may take lessons from this verse; every state and every home must endeavour to advance the cause of brahminical culture for self purification, God-consciousness for self-realisation and cow-protection for the matter of getting sufficient milk and derive the best food value thereof, and to continue a perfect civilization.