Shloka 37
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
मा जातु तेज: प्रभवेन्महर्द्धिभि- स्तितिक्षया तपसा विद्यया च । देदीप्यमानेऽजितदेवतानां कुले स्वयं राजकुलाद् द्विजानाम् ॥ ३७ ॥
mā jātu tejaḥ prabhaven maharddhibhis titikṣayā tapasā vidyayā ca dedīpyamāne ’jita-devatānāṁ kule svayaṁ rāja-kulād dvijānām
Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas are themselves glorified by the power of tolerance, austerity, knowledge, and sacred learning. By these spiritual riches the Vaiṣṇava surpasses royal might; therefore the princely order should not parade material prowess before them, and must avoid offending them.
Pṛthu Mahārāja has explained in the previous verse the importance of devotional service for both the rulers and the citizens of the state. Now he explains how one can be steadily fixed in devotional service. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, while instructing Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, has compared the devotional service of the Lord with a creeper. A creeper has a feeble stem and requires the support of a tree to grow, and while growing it requires sufficient protection so that it may not be lost. While describing the system of protection for the creeper of devotional service, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has especially stressed protection from offenses unto the lotus feet of Vaiṣṇavas. Such offenses are called vaiṣṇava-aparādha. Aparādha means “offense.” If one commits vaiṣṇava-aparādhas, all of his progress in devotional service will be checked. Even though one is very much advanced in devotional service, if he commits offenses at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava, his advancement is all spoiled. In the śāstras it is found that a very great yogī, Durvāsā Muni, committed a vaiṣṇava-aparādha and thus for one full year had to travel all over the universe, even to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, to defend himself from the offense. At last, even when he approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Vaikuṇṭha, he was refused protection. Therefore one should be very careful about committing offenses at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava. The most grievous type of vaiṣṇava-aparādha is called gurv-aparādha, which refers to offenses at the lotus feet of the spiritual master. In the chanting of the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this gurv-aparādha is considered the most grievous offense. Guror avajñā śruti-śāstra-nindanam ( Padma Purāṇa ). Among the ten offenses committed against the chanting of the holy name, the first offenses are disobedience of the spiritual master and blasphemy of the Vedic literature.
FAQs
This verse teaches that real tejas is not merely produced by wealth, endurance, austerity, or learning, but shines when grounded in sacred, devotional culture—especially in saintly and brāhmaṇa lineages and dharmic royal conduct.
In his instructions on ideal social order and governance, Pṛthu warns that external qualifications can inflate pride; leadership should be rooted in dharma and reverence for the spiritually authoritative brāhmaṇas and the worshipful, unconquerable Lord-centered tradition.
Use education, discipline, and success as supports for humility and service—seek guidance from genuinely God-centered teachers, avoid pride in achievements, and measure “brilliance” by character, devotion, and integrity rather than status.