Shloka 50
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
नूनं चङ्क्रमणं देव सतां संरक्षणाय ते । वधाय चासतां यस्त्वं हरे: शक्तिर्हि पालिनी ॥ ५० ॥
nūnaṁ caṅkramaṇaṁ deva satāṁ saṁrakṣaṇāya te vadhāya cāsatāṁ yas tvaṁ hareḥ śaktir hi pālinī
ഹേ ദേവാ! നിന്റെ ഈ പര്യടനം നിശ്ചയമായും സജ്ജനരുടെ സംരക്ഷണത്തിനും ദുഷ്ടരുടെ നാശത്തിനുമാണ്; കാരണം നീ ശ്രീഹരിയുടെ പാലകശക്തിയാണ്।
It appears from many Vedic literatures, especially histories like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the other Purāṇas, that the pious kings of old used to tour their kingdoms in order to give protection to the pious citizens and to chastise or kill the impious. Sometimes they used to kill animals in the forests to practice the killing art because without such practice they would not be able to kill the undesirable elements. Kṣatriyas are allowed to commit violence in that way because violence for a good purpose is a part of their duty. Here two terms are clearly mentioned: vadhāya, “for the purpose of killing,” and asatām, “those who are undesirable.” The protecting energy of the king is supposed to be the energy of the Supreme Lord. In Bhagavad-gītā (4.8) the Lord says, paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām. The Lord descends to give protection to the pious and to kill the demons. Therefore the potency to give protection to the pious and kill the demons or undesirables is directly an energy from the Supreme Lord, and the king or the chief executive of the state is supposed to possess such energy. In this age it is very difficult to find such a head of state who is expert in killing the undesirables. Modern heads of state sit very nicely in their palaces and try without reason to kill innocent persons.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord’s divine activities and movements are for safeguarding the saintly (satām saṁrakṣaṇāya) and for destroying the ungodly (vadhāya cāsatām), showing His role as Hari’s protecting potency.
In the context of the Lord’s appearance and presence in Kardama Muni’s household, Devahūti glorifies Him, recognizing that His coming and actions are purposeful—meant to protect the righteous and curb irreligion.
Practice steady devotion and righteous conduct, trusting that sincere spiritual life attracts the Lord’s protection, while also understanding that harmful, ungodly tendencies must be checked and purified.