The Citizens Should Feel Safe!
Today I heard Srila Prabhupada’s talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.34–35 (September 28, 1976, Vrindavan), and in the wake of George Floyd’s recent death, caused by the police, and the subsequent riots, the following excerpt seemed especially relevant and poignant:
“Kshatriya … Kshat means injury. And trayate, to deliver. Kshatriya’s duty is to save the citizens from being injured by others. That is kshatriya. Even an animal. Just like Kali was trying to kill a cow. Maharaja Pariksit was on his tour, and he saw that a man was trying to kill a cow. So immediately he took his sword: ‘Who are you, rascal? You are trying to kill a cow in my kingdom?’ That is kshatriya’s duty. Kshatriya’s duty is to give protection from injury for the safety of the citizens. The citizens must feel safe, that ‘We have got such a nice king. There is no fear of anything.’ It is said in the Bhagavatam there was no anxiety even. The citizens should feel so much safe that ‘We have such a nice king that we have no danger at all: not being injured, not our property being stolen, nor injustice given.’ That is real government—when the citizens feel completely safe. That requires kshatriya. Not these chamars, bhangis, and sudras voted to become the president or minister. That will not be successful. That is not possible. There must be trained-up kshatriyas, then there will be good government. Trained. Trained means they should be advised by the brahmans.”
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami