Shloka 3
Ajāmila Delivered: Viṣṇudūtas Establish the Supremacy of the Holy Name
प्रजानां पितरो ये च शास्तार: साधव: समा: । यदि स्यात्तेषु वैषम्यं कं यान्ति शरणं प्रजा: ॥ ३ ॥
prajānāṁ pitaro ye ca śāstāraḥ sādhavaḥ samāḥ yadi syāt teṣu vaiṣamyaṁ kaṁ yānti śaraṇaṁ prajāḥ
പ്രജകളുടെ പിതാവും പോഷകനും രക്ഷകനുമായ് ശാസ്ത്രാനുസാരം ഉപദേശം നൽകി എല്ലാവരോടും സമനായി നില്ക്കേണ്ടവർ തന്നെ പക്ഷപാതം കാണിച്ചാൽ, പ്രജകൾ ആരുടെ ശരണം തേടും?
The king, or in modern times the government, should act as the guardian of the citizens by teaching them the proper goal of life. The human form of life is especially meant for realization of one’s self and one’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead because this cannot be realized in animal life. The duty of the government, therefore, is to take charge of training all the citizens in such a way that by a gradual process they will be elevated to the spiritual platform and will realize the self and his relationship with God. This principle was followed by kings like Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Lord Rāmacandra, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and Prahlāda Mahārāja. The leaders of the government must be very honest and religious because otherwise all the affairs of the state will suffer. Unfortunately, in the name of democracy, rogues and thieves are electing other rogues and thieves to the most important posts in the government. Recently this has been proven in America, where the president had to be condemned and dragged down from his post by the citizens. This is only one case, but there are many others. Because of the importance of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, people should be Kṛṣṇa conscious and should not vote for anyone who is not Kṛṣṇa conscious. Then there will be actual peace and prosperity in the state. When a Vaiṣṇava sees mismanagement in the government, he feels great compassion in his heart and tries his best to purify the situation by spreading the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement.
FAQs
This verse argues that rulers, teachers, and saintly guardians must be impartial; if they become biased, ordinary people lose any trustworthy refuge for justice and protection.
While stopping Ajāmila’s arrest, the Viṣṇudūtas challenged the Yamadūtas’ claim of authority by emphasizing that true dharma must be equal and reliable—otherwise people cannot know where to seek shelter.
Choose guidance from principled, unbiased mentors and institutions, and cultivate fairness in your own decisions—especially when you hold responsibility over others.