Shloka 50
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
नात्यद्भुतमिदं नाथ तवाजीव्यानुशासनम् । प्रजानुरागो महतां प्रकृति: करुणात्मनाम् ॥ ५० ॥
nātyadbhutam idaṁ nātha tavājīvyānuśāsanam prajānurāgo mahatāṁ prakṛtiḥ karuṇātmanām
Our lord, to rule your citizens is your dharma and rightful duty. For one as merciful and devoted to the people as you, this is no wonder at all, for compassion is the very nature of the great.
A king’s duty is to give protection to his citizens and levy taxes from them for his livelihood. Since the Vedic society is divided into four classes of men — the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras — their means of livelihood are also mentioned in the scriptures. The brāhmaṇas should live by spreading knowledge and should therefore take contributions from their disciples, whereas a king should give protection to the citizens for their development to the highest standard of life, and he can therefore levy taxes from them; businessmen or mercantile men, because they produce foodstuffs for the whole of society, can take a little profit from this, whereas the śūdras, who cannot work as either brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas or vaiśyas, should give service to the higher classes of society and be provided by them with a supply of the necessities of life.
FAQs
This verse says that caring guidance for the people is natural for truly great and compassionate souls—such rulers protect and uplift their citizens through wise instruction.
In the narrative, Pṛthu instructs and protects his subjects; the citizens respond that such welfare-oriented counsel is expected from a merciful, saintly king.
Whether leading a family, team, or community, give guidance that genuinely sustains others’ well-being—compassionate concern is a hallmark of true greatness.