SB 10.89.23
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 23
- brahma-dviṣaḥ śaṭha-dhiyo
- lubdhasya viṣayātmanaḥ
- kṣatra-bandhoḥ karma-doṣāt
- pañcatvaṁ me gato 'rbhakaḥ
SYNONYMS
brahma — against brāhmaṇas; dviṣaḥ — hateful; śaṭha — duplicitous; lubdhasya — avaricious; viṣaya-ātmanaḥ — addicted to sense gratification; kṣatra-bandhoḥ — of an unqualified kṣatriya; karma — in the performance of duties; doṣāt — because of discrepancies; pañcatvam — death; me — my; gataḥ — met; arbhakaḥ — son.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
[The brāhmaṇa said:] This duplicitous, greedy enemy of brāhmaṇas, this unqualified ruler addicted to sense pleasure, has caused my son's death by some discrepancies in the execution of his duties.
PURPORT
Presuming that he himself had done nothing to cause his son's death, the brāhmaṇa thought it reasonable to blame King Ugrasena. In the Vedic social system, the monarch is considered responsible for everything occurring in his kingdom, good or bad. Even in a democracy, a manager who takes charge of some group or project should accept personal responsibility for any failure rather than, as is so common today, trying to place the blame on his subordinates or superiors.