SB 9.9.30

TEXT 30

TEXT

सो ऽयं ब्रह्मर्षिवर्यस्ते राजर्षिप्रवराद्विभो ।
कथमर्हति धर्मज्ञ वधं पितुरिवात्मजः ॥ ३० ॥

so 'yam brahmarsi-varyas te

rajarsi-pravarad vibho

katham arhati dharma-jna

vadham pitur ivatmajah

sah-he, the brahmana; ayam-this; brahma-rsi-varyah-not only a brahmana but the best of great sages, or brahmarsis; te-also from you; raja-rsi-pravarat-who are the best of all saintly kings, or rajarsis; vibho-O master of the state; katham-how; arhati-he deserves; dharma-jna-O you, who are quite aware of religious principles; vadham-killing; pituh-from the father; iva-like; atmajah-the son.

TRANSLATION

My lord, you are completely aware of the religious principles. As a son never deserves to be killed by his father, here is a brahmana who should be protected by the king, and never killed. How does he deserve to be killed by a rajarsi like you?

PURPORT

The word rajarsi refers to a king who behaves like a rsi, or sage. Such a king is also called naradeva because he is considered a representative of the Supreme Lord. Because his duty is to rule the kingdom to maintain brahminical culture, he never desires to kill a brahmana. Generally, a brahmana, woman, child, old man or cow is never regarded as punishable. Thus the wife of the brahmana requested the King to refrain from this sinful act.