Shloka 48
The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend
Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजर्षे इमामुदधिमेखलाम् । दस्युभ्य: क्षत्रबन्धुभ्यो बिभ्यतीं पातुमर्हसि ॥ ४८ ॥
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha rājarṣe imām udadhi-mekhalām dasyubhyaḥ kṣatra-bandhubhyo bibhyatīṁ pātum arhasi
Rise, rise, O royal sage! Behold this world girdled by the waters, harried by rogues and kings in name alone. The world is afraid, and it is your sacred duty to protect her.
Whenever an ācārya comes, following the superior orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, he establishes the principles of religion, as enunciated in Bhagavad-gītā. Religion means abiding by the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Religious principles begin from the time one surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is the ācārya’s duty to spread a bona fide religious system and induce everyone to bow down before the Supreme Lord. One executes the religious principles by rendering devotional service, specifically the nine items like hearing, chanting and remembering. Unfortunately, when the ācārya disappears, rogues and nondevotees take advantage and immediately begin to introduce unauthorized principles in the name of so-called svāmīs, yogīs, philanthropists, welfare workers and so on. Actually, human life is meant for executing the orders of the Supreme Lord, and this is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.34) :
FAQs
This verse urges the saintly ruler to rise and protect the Earth and her people from plunderers and unqualified rulers, presenting protection as a core duty of righteous kingship (kṣatriya-dharma).
Because they resemble kṣatriyas by birth or title but lack the true qualities—courage, justice, and protection of subjects—so they become a cause of fear rather than shelter.
Support and embody leadership rooted in service and protection—defend the vulnerable, resist exploitation, and treat power as responsibility rather than entitlement.