—json {

  "name":"SB 4.13.23",
  "h1":"SB 4.13.23",
  "label":"Text 23",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.13.23",
  "description":"It is the duty of all citizens in a state never to insult the king, even though he sometimes appears to have done something very sinful. Because of his prowess, the king is always more influential than all other ruling chiefs."

} —

SB 4.13.23

नावध्येयः प्रजापालः प्रजाभिरघवानपि ।
यदसौ लोकपालानां बिभर्त्योजः स्वतेजसा ॥२३॥

Text

nāvadhyeyaḥ prajā-pālaḥ
prajābhir aghavān api
yad asau loka-pālānāṁ
bibharty ojaḥ sva-tejasā

Synonyms

na—never; avadhyeyaḥ—to be insulted; prajā-pālaḥ—the king; prajābhiḥ—by the citizens; aghavān—ever sinful; api—even though; yat—because; asau—he; loka-pālānām—of many kings; bibharti—maintains; ojaḥ—prowess; sva-tejasā—by personal influence.

Translation

It is the duty of all citizens in a state never to insult the king, even though he sometimes appears to have done something very sinful. Because of his prowess, the king is always more influential than all other ruling chiefs.

Purport

According to Vedic civilization the king is supposed to be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is called nara-nārāyaṇa, indicating that Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in human society as the king. It is etiquette that neither a brāhmaṇa nor a kṣatriya king is ever insulted by the citizens; even though a king appears to be sinful, the citizens should not insult him. But in the case of Vena it appears that he was cursed by the nara-devatās; therefore, it was concluded that his sinful activities were very grievous.