SB 9.9.30
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 30
- so 'yaṁ brahmarṣi-varyas te
- rājarṣi-pravarād vibho
- katham arhati dharma-jña
- vadhaṁ pitur ivātmajaḥ
SYNONYMS
saḥ—he, the brāhmaṇa; ayam—this; brahma-ṛṣi-varyaḥ—not only a brāhmaṇa but the best of great sages, or brahmarṣis; te—also from you; rāja-ṛṣi-pravarāt—who are the best of all saintly kings, or rājarṣis; vibho—O master of the state; katham—how; arhati—he deserves; dharma-jña—O you, who are quite aware of religious principles; vadham—killing; pituḥ—from the father; iva—like; ātmajaḥ—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 brāhmaṇa who should be protected by the king, and never killed. How does he deserve to be killed by a rājarṣi like you?
PURPORT
The word rājarṣi refers to a king who behaves like a ṛṣi, 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 brāhmaṇa. Generally, a brāhmaṇa, woman, child, old man or cow is never regarded as punishable. Thus the wife of the brāhmaṇa requested the King to refrain from this sinful act.