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TEXTS 1011
vayam rajan jatharenabhitapta
yathagnina kotara-sthena vrksah
tvam adya yatah saranam saranyam
yah sadhito vrtti-karah patir nah
tan no bhavan ihatu ratave nnam
ksudharditanam naradeva-deva
yavan na nanksyamaha ujjhitorja
varta-patis tvam kila loka-palah
SYNONYMS
vayamwe; rajanO King; jatharenaby the fire of hunger; abhitaptahvery much aggrieved; yathajust as; agninaby the fire; kotara-sthenain the hollow of a tree; vrksahtrees; tvamunto you; adyatoday; yatahwe have come; saranamshelter; saranyamworth taking shelter of; yahwho; sadhitahappointed; vrtti-karahone who gives employment; patihmaster; nahour; tattherefore; nahto us; bhavanYour Majesty; ihatuplease try; rataveto give; annamfood grains; ksudhawith hunger; arditanamsuffering; nara-deva-devaO supreme master of all kings; yavat nalest; nanksyamahewe will perish; ujjhitabeing bereft of; urjahfood grains; vartaof occupational engagements; patihbestower; tvamyou; kilaindeed; loka-palahthe protector of the citizens.
TRANSLATION
Dear King, just as a tree with a fire burning in the hollow of the trunk gradually dries up, we are drying up due to the fire of hunger in our stomachs. You are the protector of surrendered souls, and you have been appointed to give employment to us. Therefore we have all come to you for protection. You are not only a king, but the incarnation of God as well. Indeed, you are the king of all kings. You can give us all kinds of occupational engagements, for you are the master of our livelihood. Therefore, O king of all kings, please arrange to satisfy our hunger by the proper distribution of food grains. Please take care of us, lest we soon die for want of food.
PURPORT
It is the duty of the king to see that everyone in the social ordersbrahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudrais fully employed in the state. Just as it is the duty of the brahmanas to elect a proper king, it is the duty of the king to see that all the varnasbrahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudraare fully engaged in their respective occupational duties. It is here indicated that although the people were allowed to perform their duties, they were still unemployed. Although they were not lazy, they still could not produce sufficient food to satisfy their hunger. When the people are perplexed in this way, they should approach the head of government, and the president or king should take immediate action to mitigate the distress of the people.
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