SB 1.3.20

Srimad-Bhagavatam - First Canto - Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations

SB 1.3.19 - SB 1.3.21

Compare Versions: SB 1962 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 20

avatāre ṣoḍaśame

paśyan brahma-druho nṛpān

triḥ-sapta-kṛtvaḥ kupito

niḥ-kṣatrām akaron mahīm

SYNONYMS

avatāre — in the incarnation of the Lord; ṣoḍaśame — the sixteenth; paśyan — seeing; brahma-druhaḥ — disobedient to the orders of the brāhmaṇas; nṛpān — the kingly order; triḥ-sapta — thrice seven times; kṛtvaḥ — had done; kupitaḥ — being engaged; niḥ — negation; kṣatrām — the administrative class; akarot — did perform; mahīm — the earth.

TRANSLATION

In the sixteenth incarnation of the Godhead, the Lord [as Bhṛgupati] annihilated the administrative class [kṣatriyas] twenty-one times, being angry with them because of their rebellion against the brāhmaṇas [the intelligent class].

PURPORT

The kṣatriyas, or the administrative class of men, are expected to rule the planet by the direction of the intelligent class of men, who give direction to the rulers in terms of the standard śāstras, or the books of revealed knowledge. The rulers carry on the administration according to that direction. Whenever there is disobedience on the part of the kṣatriyas, or the administrative class, against the orders of the learned and intelligent brāhmaṇas, the administrators are removed by force from the posts, and arrangement is made for better administration.

SB 1.3.19 - SB 1.3.21