Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 12, Chapter 03, Text 09-13

Text-09-13

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SB 12.3.9-13

prthuh pururava gadhir
 nahuso bharato ’rjunah
mandhata sagaro ramah
 khatvango dhundhuha raghuh
 
trnabindur yayatis ca
 saryatih santanur gayah
bhagirathah kuvalayasvah
 kakutstho naisadho nrgah
 
hiranyakasipur vrtro
 ravano loka-ravanah
namucih sambaro bhaumo
 hiranyakso ’tha tarakah
 
anye ca bahavo daitya
 rajano ye mahesvarah
sarve sarva-vidah surah
 sarve sarva-jito ’jitah
 
mamatam mayy avartanta
 krtvoccair martya-dharminah
kathavasesah kalena
 hy akrtarthah krta vibho
 
Translation: 
 
“Such kings as Prthu, Pururava, Gadhi, Nahusa, Bharata, Kartavirya Arjuna, Mandhata, Sagara, Rama, Khatvanga, Dhundhuha, Raghu, Trnabindu, Yayati, Saryati, Santanu, Gaya, Bhagiratha, Kuvalayasva, Kakutstha, Naisadha, Nrga, Hiranyakasipu, Vrtra, Ravana, who made the whole world lament, Namuci, Sambara, Bhauma, Hiranyaksa and Taraka, as well as many other demons and kings who possessed great powers of control over others, were all full of knowledge, heroic, all-conquering and unconquerable. Nevertheless, O almighty Lord, although they lived their lives intensely trying to possess me, these kings were subject to the passage of time, which reduced them all to mere historical accounts. None of them could permanently establish their rule.”
 
Purport: 
 
According to Srila Sridhara Svami, and as confirmed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the King Rama mentioned here is not the incarnation of Godhead Ramacandra. Prthu Maharaja is understood to be an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who completely exhibited the characteristics of an earthly king, claiming proprietorship over the entire earth. A saintly king like Prthu Maharaja, however, controls the earth on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whereas a demon such as Hiranyakasipu or Ravana tries to exploit the earth for his personal sense gratification. Nevertheless, both saintly kings and demons must leave the earth. In this way their political supremacy is ultimately neutralized by the force of time.
 
Modern political leaders cannot even temporarily control the entire earth, nor are their opulences and intelligence unlimited. Possessing hopelessly fragmented power, enjoying a minuscule life span, and lacking deep existential intelligence, modern leaders inevitably are symbols of frustration and misdirected ambition.
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 12, Chapter 03, Text 08
Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 12, Chapter 03, Text 14