Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 12
The Sūtas Foretell the Glories and Future Deeds of King Pṛthu
अन्तर्बहिश्च भूतानां पश्यन् कर्माणि चारणै: । उदासीन इवाध्यक्षो वायुरात्मेव देहिनाम् ॥ १२ ॥
antar bahiś ca bhūtānāṁ paśyan karmāṇi cāraṇaiḥ udāsīna ivādhyakṣo vāyur ātmeva dehinām
König Pṛthu wird durch seine Kundschafter die inneren und äußeren Handlungen aller Bürger sehen; doch niemand wird sein Spähsystem erkennen können. Lob und Tadel gegenüber bleibt er unbeteiligt—wie der Lebenshauch im Körper, der innen wie außen wirkt und dennoch in allen Angelegenheiten neutral ist.
FAQs
This verse says a righteous king may supervise everyone’s activities for protection and justice, yet remain personally detached—like the all-pervading air and like the Supersoul within all beings.
Because he could know what was happening throughout the kingdom and regulate it, while remaining unbiased and unattached—pervading in oversight without becoming entangled.
Do your duty of supervision (at home, work, or community) with fairness and awareness, but avoid ego, favoritism, and personal entanglement in others’ actions.