Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 16
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचित्कालविषमितराजकुलरक्षसापहृतप्रियतमधनासु: प्रमृतक इव विगतजीवलक्षण आस्ते ॥ १६ ॥
kvacit kāla-viṣa-mita-rāja-kula-rakṣasāpahṛta-priyatama-dhanāsuḥ pramṛtaka iva vigata-jīva-lakṣaṇa āste.
Parfois, les gens du gouvernement, déformés par l’influence du temps, deviennent tels des rākṣasas carnivores et lui arrachent toute sa richesse accumulée. Privé de son trésor de réserve, il perd tout élan; c’est comme s’il avait perdu la vie, les signes mêmes de vitalité s’éteignant.
The word rāja-kula-rakṣasā is very significant. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was compiled about five thousand years ago, yet government men are referred to as Rākṣasas, or carnivorous demons. If government men are opposed to a person, that person will be bereft of all his riches, which he has accumulated with great care over a long period of time. Actually no one wants to pay income taxes — even government men themselves try to avoid these taxes — but at unfavorable times income taxes are exacted forcibly, and the taxpayers become very morose.
FAQs
This verse describes how, by the harsh workings of time, one may be plundered by the ‘demon’ of the royal order—losing dear wealth and even one’s life-force—leaving the person broken and lifeless in spirit.
In the allegory of the material world as a dangerous forest, exploitative power structures are portrayed as predatory—able to seize a person’s resources and vitality—like a man-eater that destroys peace and hope.
It encourages detachment and spiritual grounding: don’t base your identity on wealth or external security; cultivate devotion and inner steadiness so losses and injustice do not crush one’s life-impulse.