Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 21
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
राजोवाच सभ्या: शृणुत भद्रं व: साधवो य इहागता: । सत्सु जिज्ञासुभिर्धर्ममावेद्यं स्वमनीषितम् ॥ २१ ॥
rājovāca sabhyāḥ śṛṇuta bhadraṁ vaḥ sādhavo ya ihāgatāḥ satsu jijñāsubhir dharmam āvedyaṁ sva-manīṣitam
ព្រះរាជាមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ «ឱ សមាជិកសភាដ៏សុភាពរាបសារ សូមមង្គលសិរីមានដល់អ្នកទាំងអស់គ្នា! ឱ សាធុជនដ៏អធិកអធមដែលបានមកទីនេះ សូមស្តាប់សំណូមពររបស់ខ្ញុំដោយយកចិត្តទុកដាក់។ អ្នកដែលចង់ដឹងពិតប្រាកដ គួរតែបង្ហាញសេចក្តីសម្រេចរបស់ខ្លួនចំពោះសភាសត្បុរស»។
In this verse the word sādhavaḥ, “all great souls,” is very significant. When a person is very great and famous, many unscrupulous persons become his enemies, for envy is the nature of materialists. In any meeting there are different classes of men, and therefore it is to be supposed that because Pṛthu Mahārāja was very great, he must have had several enemies present in the assembly, although they could not express themselves. Mahārāja Pṛthu, however, was concerned with persons who were gentle, and therefore he first addressed all the honest persons, not caring for the envious. He did not, however, present himself as a royal authority empowered to command everyone, for he wanted to present his statement in humble submission before the assembly of great sages and saintly persons. As a great king of the entire world, he could have given them orders, but he was so humble, meek and honest that he presented his statement for approval in order to clarify his mature decision. Everyone within this material world is conditioned by the modes of material nature and therefore has four defects. But although Pṛthu Mahārāja was above all these, still, like an ordinary conditioned soul, he presented his statements to the great souls, sages and saintly persons present there.
FAQs
This verse teaches that in the company of saintly and sincere inquirers, it is appropriate to speak dharma and share one’s well-considered understanding for the benefit of all.
As an ideal ruler and devotee-king, Pṛthu Mahārāja honored the sādhus and the assembly, inviting attentive hearing and setting a proper devotional, dharmic tone for instruction.
Seek saintly association, cultivate sincere questions, and discuss dharma respectfully—sharing insights thoughtfully rather than arguing—so understanding and devotion can deepen.