—json {

  "name":"SB 4.16.21",
  "h1":"SB 4.16.21",
  "label":"Text 21",
  "title":"Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.16.21",
  "description":"When the King travels all over the world, other kings, as well as the demigods, will offer him all kinds of presentations. Their queens will also consider him the original king, who carries in His hands the emblems of club and disc, and will sing of his fame, for he will be as reputable as the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

} —

SB 4.16.21

अस्मै नृपालाः किल तत्र तत्र बलिं हरिष्यन्ति सलोकपालाः ।
मंस्यन्त एषां स्त्रिय आदिराजं चक्रायुधं तद्यश उद्धरन्त्यः ॥२१॥

Text

asmai nṛ-pālāḥ kila tatra tatra
baliṁ hariṣyanti saloka-pālāḥ
maṁsyanta eṣāṁ striya ādi-rājaṁ
cakrāyudhaṁ tad-yaśa uddharantyaḥ

Synonyms

asmai—unto him; nṛ-pālāḥ—all the kings; kila—certainly; tatra tatra—here and there; balim—presentations; hariṣyanti—will offer; sa—with; loka-pālāḥ—the demigods; maṁsyante—will consider; eṣām—of these kings; striyaḥ—wives; ādi-rājam—the original king; cakra-āyudham—bearing the disc weapon; tat—his; yaśaḥ—reputation; uddharantyaḥ—carrying on.

Translation

When the King travels all over the world, other kings, as well as the demigods, will offer him all kinds of presentations. Their queens will also consider him the original king, who carries in His hands the emblems of club and disc, and will sing of his fame, for he will be as reputable as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Purport

As far as reputation is concerned, King Pṛthu is already known as the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word ādi-rājam means “the original king.” The original king is Nārāyaṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu. People do not know that the original king, or Nārāyaṇa, is actually the protector of all living entities. As confirmed in the Vedas: eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). Actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead is maintaining all living entities. The king, or naradeva, is His representative. As such, the king's duty is to personally supervise the distribution of wealth for the maintenance of all living entities. If he does so, he will be as reputable as Nārāyaṇa. As mentioned in this verse (tad-yaśaḥ), Pṛthu Mahārāja was actually carrying with him the reputation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he was actually reigning over the world in that capacity.