Shloka 23
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
तस्य मे तदनुष्ठानाद्यानाहुर्ब्रह्मवादिन: । लोका: स्यु: कामसन्दोहा यस्य तुष्यति दिष्टदृक् ॥ २३ ॥
tasya me tad-anuṣṭhānād yān āhur brahma-vādinaḥ lokāḥ syuḥ kāma-sandohā yasya tuṣyati diṣṭa-dṛk
Mahārāja Pṛthu said: By duly performing my royal duty, I shall attain the cherished aims spoken of by the knowers of the Vedas, for that perfection is surely won when the Supreme Personality of Godhead—the seer of all destiny—is pleased.
Mahārāja Pṛthu gives special stress to the word brahma-vādinaḥ, “by the experts in the Vedic knowledge.” Brahma refers to the Vedas, which are also known as śabda-brahma, or transcendental sound. Transcendental sound is not ordinary language, although it appears to be written in ordinary language. Evidence from the Vedic literature should be accepted as final authority. In the Vedic literature there is much information, and of course there is information about the execution of a king’s duty. A responsible king who executes his appointed duty by giving proper protection to all living entities on his planet is promoted to the heavenly planetary system. This is also dependent upon the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. It is not that if one executes his duty properly he is automatically promoted, for promotion depends upon the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It must ultimately be concluded that one can achieve the desired result of his activities upon satisfying the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed in the First Canto, Second Chapter, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
FAQs
This verse says that when the all-seeing Lord (diṣṭa-dṛk) is pleased, desired outcomes arise naturally—so divine satisfaction is the root of true success.
Pṛthu supports his instruction by citing the authority of realized teachers, emphasizing that his recommended conduct is grounded in Vedic wisdom and leads to genuine fulfillment.
Do your duties with integrity and devotion—offer your work to the Lord—because lasting results depend not only on effort but on aligning actions with dharma and divine pleasure.