Shloka 23

Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena

Prelude to Pṛthu

Devanagari script

नावध्येय: प्रजापाल: प्रजाभिरघवानपि । यदसौ लोकपालानां बिभर्त्योज: स्वतेजसा ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

nāvadhyeyaḥ prajā-pālaḥ prajābhir aghavān api yad asau loka-pālānāṁ bibharty ojaḥ sva-tejasā

Translation

Citizens should never insult the king, even if he sometimes seems to act sinfully, for by his own prowess and splendor the king bears greater influence than all other rulers.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• avadhyeyaḥ: not to be blamed; not censurable
• avadhyeyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avadhyeya (प्रातिपदिक; a- + vadhya + -eya)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• prajā-pālaḥ: protector of the subjects
• prajā-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (prajāyāḥ pālaḥ)

• prajābhiḥ: by/with the subjects
• prajābhiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument or agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• aghavān: sinful; wicked
• aghavān: Karta (कर्ता/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aghavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• api: even; also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• yat: because/that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म/object of bibharti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (यद्-प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

• asau: he (that person)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (असद्/असौ-प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• loka-pālānām: of the guardians of the worlds
• loka-pālānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (lokānāṁ pālāḥ)

• bibharti: bears; sustains
• bibharti: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ojaḥ: vigor; strength
• ojaḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sva-tejasā: by his own splendor
• sva-tejasā: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (svaṁ tejaḥ)

Purport

According to Vedic civilization the king is supposed to be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is called nara-nārāyaṇa, indicating that Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in human society as the king. It is etiquette that neither a brāhmaṇa nor a kṣatriya king is ever insulted by the citizens; even though a king appears to be sinful, the citizens should not insult him. But in the case of Vena it appears that he was cursed by the nara-devatās; therefore, it was concluded that his sinful activities were very grievous.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about criticizing a king or leader?

This verse says a ruler who truly protects the people should not be harshly condemned by the subjects even if he has faults, because his position sustains the strength and order of worldly administration.

Why is a protector of the citizens not to be blamed even if he has faults?

Because the king’s very authority and power uphold the functioning and vigor of the world’s guardians—maintaining stability and protection for society.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Value responsible leadership and public service, critique with fairness and gratitude, and prioritize whether a leader genuinely protects and supports the well-being of people.