TEXT 29
abhuta-purvah sahasa
ksut-trdbhyam arditatmanah
brahmanam praty abhud brahman
matsaro manyur eva ca
SYNONYMS
abhuta-purvahunprecedented; sahasacircumstantially; ksuthunger; trdbhyamas well as by thirst; arditabeing distressed; atmanahof his self; brahmanamunto a brahmana; pratiagainst; abhutbecame; brahmanO brahmanas; matsarahenvious; manyuhangry; evathus; caand.
TRANSLATION
O brahmanas, the King's anger and envy, directed toward the brahmana sage, were unprecedented, being that circumstances had made him hungry and thirsty.
PURPORT
For a king like Maharaja Pariksit to become angry and envious, especially at a sage and brahmana, was undoubtedly unprecedented. The King knew well that brahmanas, sages, children, women and old men are always beyond the jurisdiction of punishment. Similarly, the king, even though he commits a great mistake, is never to be considered a wrongdoer. But in this case, Maharaja Pariksit became angry and envious at the sage due to his thirst and hunger, by the will of the Lord. The King was right to punish his subject for coldly receiving him or neglecting him, but because the culprit was a sage and a brahmana, it was unprecedented. As the Lord is never envious of anyone, so also the Lord's devotee is never envious of anyone. The only justification for Maharaja Pariksit's behavior is that it was ordained by the Lord.

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