Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 9: “Liberation”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Chapter Ten

SB9.10.29

TEXT 29

sri-suka uvaca

svanam vibhisanas cakre

kosalendranumoditah

pitr-medha-vidhanena

yad uktam samparayikam

SYNONYMS

sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; svanam—of his own family members; vibhisanah—Vibhisana, the brother of Ravana and devotee of Lord Ramacandra; cakre—executed; kosala-indra-anumoditah—approved by the King of Kosala, Lord Ramacandra; pitr-medha-vidhanena—by the funeral ceremony performed by the son after the death of his father or some family member; yat uktam—which have been prescribed; samparayikam—duties to be performed after a person’s death to save him from the path to hell.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Vibhisana, the pious brother of Ravana and devotee of Lord Ramacandra, received approval from Lord Ramacandra, the King of Kosala. Then he performed the prescribed funeral ceremonies for his family members to save them from the path to hell.

PURPORT

After giving up the body, one is transferred to another body, but sometimes, if one is too sinful, he is checked from transmigrating to another body, and thus he becomes a ghost. To save a diseased person from ghostly life, the funeral ceremony, or sraddha ceremony, as prescribed in authorized sastra, must be performed. Ravana was killed by Lord Ramacandra and was destined for hellish life, but by Lord Ramacandra’s advice, Vibhisana, Ravana’s brother, performed all the duties prescribed in relation to the dead. Thus Lord Ramacandra was kind to Ravana even after Ravana’s death.

SB9.10.30

TEXT 30

tato dadarsa bhagavan

asoka-vanikasrame

ksamam sva-viraha-vyadhim

simsapa-mulam-asritam

SYNONYMS

tatah—thereafter; dadarsa—saw; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asoka-vanika-asrame—in a small cottage in the forest of Asoka trees; ksamam—very lean and thin; sva-viraha-vyadhim—suffering from the disease of separation from Lord Ramacandra; simsapa—of the tree known as Simsapa; mulam—the root; asritam—taking shelter of.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Lord Ramacandra found Sitadevi sitting in a small cottage beneath the tree named Simsapa in a forest of Asoka trees. She was lean and thin, being aggrieved because of separation from Him.

SB9.10.31

TEXT 31

ramah priyatamam bharyam

dinam viksyanvakampata

atma-sandarsanahlada-

vikasan-mukha-pankajam

SYNONYMS

ramah—Lord Ramacandra; priya-tamam—upon His dearmost; bharyam—wife; dinam—so poorly situated; viksya—looking; anvakampata—became very compassionate; atma-sandarsana—when one sees his beloved; ahlada—an ecstasy of joyful life; vikasat—manifesting; mukha—mouth; pankajam—like a lotus.

TRANSLATION

Seeing His wife in that condition, Lord Ramacandra was very compassionate. When Ramacandra came before her, she was exceedingly happy to see her beloved, and her lotuslike mouth showed her joy.

SB9.10.32

TEXT 32

aropyaruruhe yanam

bhratrbhyam hanumad-yutah

vibhisanaya bhagavan

dattva rakso-ganesatam

lankam ayus ca kalpantam

yayau cirna-vratah purim

SYNONYMS

aropya—keeping or placing; aruruhe—got up; yanam—on the airplane; bhratrbhyam—with His brother Laksmana and the commander Sugriva; hanumat-yutah—accompanied by Hanuman; vibhisanaya—unto Vibhisana, the brother of Ravana; bhagavan—the Lord; dattva—gave charge; raksah-gana-isatam—the power to rule over the Raksasa population of Lanka; lankam—the state of Lanka; ayuh ca—and the duration of life; kalpa-antam—for many, many years, until the end of one kalpa; yayau—returned home; cirna-vratah—finishing the duration of time living in the forest; purim—to Ayodhya-puri.

TRANSLATION

After giving Vibhisana the power to rule the Raksasa population of Lanka for the duration of one kalpa, Lord Ramacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Bhagavan], placed Sitadevi on an airplane decorated with flowers and then got on the plane Himself. The period for His living in the forest having ended, the Lord returned to Ayodhya, accompanied by Hanuman, Sugriva and His brother Laksmana.

SB9.10.33

TEXT 33

avakiryamanah sukusumair

lokapalarpitaih pathi

upagiyamana-caritah

satadhrty-adibhir muda

SYNONYMS

avakiryamanah—being overflooded; su-kusumaih—by fragrant and beautiful flowers; loka-pala-arpitaih—offered by the princely order; pathi—on the road; upagiyamana-caritah—being glorified for His uncommon activities; satadhrti-adibhih—by personalities like Lord Brahma and other demigods; muda—with great jubilation.

TRANSLATION

When Lord Ramacandra returned to His capital, Ayodhya, He was greeted on the road by the princely order, who showered His body with beautiful, fragrant flowers, while great personalities like Lord Brahma and other demigods glorified the activities of the Lord in great jubilation.

SB9.10.34

TEXT 34

go-mutra-yavakam srutva

bhrataram valkalambaram

maha-karuniko ’tapyaj

jatilam sthandile-sayam

SYNONYMS

go-mutra-yavakam—eating barley boiled in the urine of a cow; srutva—hearing; bhrataram—His brother Bharata; valkala-ambaram—covered with the bark of trees; maha-karunikah—the supremely merciful Lord Ramacandra; atapyat—lamented very much; jatilam—wearing matted locks of hair; sthandile-sayam—lying down on a grass mattress, or kusasana.

TRANSLATION

Upon reaching Ayodhya, Lord Ramacandra heard that in His absence His brother Bharata was eating barley cooked in the urine of a cow, covering His body with the bark of trees, wearing matted locks of hair, and lying on a mattress of kusa. The most merciful Lord very much lamented this.

SB9.10.35-38

TEXTS 35–38

bharatah praptam akarnya

pauramatya-purohitaih

paduke sirasi nyasya

ramam pratyudyato ’grajam

nandigramat sva-sibirad

gita-vaditra-nihsvanaih

brahma-ghosena ca muhuh

pathadbhir brahmavadibhih

svarna-kaksa-patakabhir

haimais citra-dhvajai rathaih

sad-asvai rukma-sannahair

bhataih purata-varmabhih

srenibhir vara-mukhyabhir

bhrtyais caiva padanugaih

paramesthyany upadaya

panyany uccavacani ca

padayor nyapatat premna

praklinna-hrdayeksanah

SYNONYMS

bharatah—Lord Bharata; praptam—coming back home; akarnya—hearing; paura—all kinds of citizens; amatya—all the ministers; purohitaih—accompanied by all the priests; paduke—the two wooden shoes; sirasi—on the head; nyasya—keeping; ramam—unto Lord Ramacandra; pratyudyatah—going forward to receive; agrajam—His eldest brother; nandigramat—from His residence, known as Nandigrama; sva-sibirat—from His own camp; gita-vaditra—songs and vibrations of drums and other musical instruments; nihsvanaih—accompanied by such sounds; brahma-ghosena—by the sound of chanting of Vedic mantras; ca—and; muhuh—always; pathadbhih—reciting from the Vedas; brahma-vadibhih—by first-class brahmanas; svarna-kaksa-patakabhih—decorated with flags with golden embroidery; haimaih—golden; citra-dhvajaih—with decorated flags; rathaih—with chariots; sat-asvaih—having very beautiful horses; rukma—golden; sannahaih—with harnesses; bhataih—by soldiers; purata-varmabhih—covered with armor made of gold; srenibhih—by such a line or procession; vara-mukhyabhih—accompanied by beautiful, well-dressed prostitutes; bhrtyaih—by servants; ca—also; eva—indeed; pada-anugaih—by infantry; paramesthyani—other paraphernalia befitting a royal reception; upadaya—taking all together; panyani—valuable jewels, etc.; ucca-avacani—of different values; ca—also; padayoh—at the lotus feet of the Lord; nyapatat—fell down; premna—in ecstatic love; praklinna—softened, moistened; hrdaya—the core of the heart; iksanah—whose eyes.

TRANSLATION

When Lord Bharata understood that Lord Ramacandra was returning to the capital, Ayodhya, He immediately took upon His own head Lord Ramacandra’s wooden shoes and came out from His camp at Nandigrama. Lord Bharata was accompanied by ministers, priests and other respectable citizens, by professional musicians vibrating pleasing musical sounds, and by learned brahmanas loudly chanting Vedic hymns. Following in the procession were chariots drawn by beautiful horses with harnesses of golden rope. These chariots were decorated by flags with golden embroidery and by other flags of various sizes and patterns. There were soldiers bedecked with golden armor, servants bearing betel nut, and many well-known and beautiful prostitutes. Many servants followed on foot, bearing an umbrella, whisks, different grades of precious jewels, and other paraphernalia befitting a royal reception. Accompanied in this way, Lord Bharata, His heart softened in ecstasy and His eyes full of tears, approached Lord Ramacandra and fell at His lotus feet with great ecstatic love.

SB9.10.39-40

TEXTS 39–40

paduke nyasya puratah

pranjalir baspa-locanah

tam aslisya ciram dorbhyam

snapayan netrajair jalaih

ramo laksmana-sitabhyam

viprebhyo ye ’rha-sattamah

tebhyah svayam namascakre

prajabhis ca namaskrtah

SYNONYMS

paduke—the two wooden shoes; nyasya—after placing; puratah—before Lord Ramacandra; pranjalih—with folded hands; baspa-locanah—with tears in the eyes; tam—unto Him, Bharata; aslisya—embracing; ciram—for a long time; dorbhyam—with His two arms; snapayan—bathing; netra-jaih—coming from His eyes; jalaih—with the water; ramah—Lord Ramacandra; laksmana-sitabhyam—with Laksmana and mother Sita; viprebhyah—unto the learned brahmanas; ye—also others who; arha-sattamah—worthy of being worshiped; tebhyah—unto them; svayam—personally; namah-cakre—offered respectful obeisances; prajabhih—by the citizens; ca—and; namah-krtah—was offered obeisances.

TRANSLATION

After offering the wooden shoes before Lord Ramacandra, Lord Bharata stood with folded hands, His eyes full of tears, and Lord Ramacandra bathed Bharata with tears while embracing Him with both arms for a long time. Accompanied by mother Sita and Laksmana, Lord Ramacandra then offered His respectful obeisances unto the learned brahmanas and the elderly persons in the family, and all the citizens of Ayodhya offered their respectful obeisances unto the Lord.

SB9.10.41

TEXT 41

dhunvanta uttarasangan

patim viksya ciragatam

uttarah kosala malyaih

kiranto nanrtur muda

SYNONYMS

dhunvantah—waving; uttara-asangan—the upper cloths covering the body; patim—the Lord; viksya—seeing; cira-agatam—returned after many years of banishment; uttarah kosalah—the citizens of Ayodhya; malyaih kirantah—offering Him garlands; nanrtuh—began to dance; muda—in great jubilation.

TRANSLATION

The citizens of Ayodhya, upon seeing their King return after a long absence, offered Him flower garlands, waved their upper cloths, and danced in great jubilation.

SB9.10.42-43

TEXTS 42–43

paduke bharato ’grhnac

camara-vyajanottame

vibhisanah sasugrivah

sveta-cchatram marut-sutah

dhanur-nisangan chatrughnah

sita tirtha-kamandalum

abibhrad angadah khadgam

haimam carmarksa-ran nrpa

SYNONYMS

paduke—the two wooden shoes; bharatah—Lord Bharata; agrhnat—carried; camara—whisk; vyajana—fan; uttame—very opulent; vibhisanah—the brother of Ravana; sa-sugrivah—with Sugriva; sveta-chatram—a white umbrella; marut-sutah—Hanuman, the son of the wind-god; dhanuh—the bow; nisangan—with two quivers; satrughnah—one of the brothers of Lord Ramacandra; sita—mother Sita; tirtha-kamandalum—the waterpot filled with water from holy places; abibhrat—carried; angadah—the monkey commander named Angada; khadgam—the sword; haimam—made of gold; carma—shield; rksa-rat—the King of the Rksas, Jambavan; nrpa—O King.

TRANSLATION

O King, Lord Bharata carried Lord Ramacandra’s wooden shoes, Sugriva and Vibhisana carried a whisk and an excellent fan, Hanuman carried a white umbrella, Satrughna carried a bow and two quivers, and Sitadevi carried a waterpot filled with water from holy places. Angada carried a sword, and Jambavan, King of the Rksas, carried a golden shield.

SB9.10.44

TEXT 44

puspaka-stho nutah stribhih

stuyamanas ca vandibhih

vireje bhagavan rajan

grahais candra ivoditah

SYNONYMS

puspaka-sthah—seated on the airplane made of flowers; nutah—worshiped; stribhih—by the women; stuyamanah—being offered prayers; ca—and; vandibhih—by the reciters; vireje—beautified; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ramacandra; rajan—O King Pariksit; grahaih—among the planets; candrah—the moon; iva—like; uditah—risen.

TRANSLATION

O King Pariksit, as the Lord sat on His airplane of flowers, with women offering Him prayers and reciters chanting about His characteristics, He appeared like the moon with the stars and planets.

SB9.10.45-46

TEXTS 45–46

bhratrabhinanditah so ’tha

sotsavam pravisat purim

pravisya raja-bhavanam

guru-patnih sva-mataram

gurun vayasyavarajan

pujitah pratyapujayat

vaidehi laksmanas caiva

yathavat samupeyatuh

SYNONYMS

bhratra—by His brother (Bharata); abhinanditah—being welcomed properly; sah—He, Lord Ramacandra; atha—thereafter; sa-utsavam—in the midst of a festival; pravisat—entered; purim—the city of Ayodhya; pravisya—after entering; raja-bhavanam—the royal palace; guru-patnih—Kaikeyi and other stepmothers; sva-mataram—His own mother (Kausalya); gurun—the spiritual masters (Sri Vasistha and others); vayasya—unto friends of the same age; avara-jan—and those who were younger than He; pujitah—being worshiped by them; pratyapujayat—He returned the obeisances; vaidehi—mother Sita; laksmanah—Laksmana; ca eva—and; yatha-vat—in a befitting way; samupeyatuh—being welcomed, entered the palace.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, having been welcomed by His brother Bharata, Lord Ramacandra entered the city of Ayodhya in the midst of a festival. When He entered the palace, He offered obeisances to all the mothers, including Kaikeyi and the other wives of Maharaja Dasaratha, and especially His own mother, Kausalya. He also offered obeisances to the spiritual preceptors, such as Vasistha. Friends of His own age and younger friends worshiped Him, and He returned their respectful obeisances, as did Laksmana and mother Sita. In this way they all entered the palace.

SB9.10.47

TEXT 47

putran sva-mataras tas tu

pranams tanva ivotthitah

aropyanke ’bhisincantyo

baspaughair vijahuh sucah

SYNONYMS

putran—the sons; sva-matarah—Their mothers; tah—they, headed by Kausalya and Kaikeyi; tu—but; pranan—life; tanvah—bodies; iva—like; utthitah—arisen; aropya—keeping; anke—on the lap; abhisincantyah—moistening (the bodies of their sons); baspa—by tears; oghaih—continuously pouring; vijahuh—gave up; sucah—lamentation due to separation from their sons.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing their sons, the mothers of Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna immediately arose, like unconscious bodies returning to consciousness. The mothers placed their sons on their laps and bathed Them with tears, thus relieving themselves of the grief of long separation.

SB9.10.48

TEXT 48

jata nirmucya vidhivat

kula-vrddhaih samam guruh

abhyasincad yathaivendram

catuh-sindhu-jaladibhih

SYNONYMS

jatah—the matted locks of hair on the head; nirmucya—shaving clean; vidhi-vat—according to regulative principles; kula-vrddhaih—the elderly persons in the family; samam—with; guruh—the family priest or spiritual master, Vasistha; abhyasincat—performed the abhiseka ceremony of Lord Ramacandra; yatha—as; eva—like; indram—unto King Indra; catuh-sindhu-jala—with the water of the four oceans; adibhih—and with other paraphernalia for bathing.

TRANSLATION

The family priest or spiritual master, Vasistha, had Lord Ramacandra cleanly shaved, freeing Him from His matted locks of hair. Then, with the cooperation of the elderly members of the family, he performed the bathing ceremony [abhiseka] for Lord Ramacandra with the water of the four seas and with other substances, just as it was performed for King Indra.

SB9.10.49

TEXT 49

evam krta-sirah-snanah

suvasah sragvy-alankrtah

svalankrtaih suvasobhir

bhratrbhir bharyaya babhau

SYNONYMS

evam—thus; krta-sirah-snanah—having completely bathed, washing the head; su-vasah—being nicely dressed; sragvi-alankrtah—being decorated with a garland; su-alankrtaih—decorated nicely; su-vasobhih—dressed nicely; bhratrbhih—with His brothers; bharyaya—and with His wife, Sita; babhau—the Lord became very brilliant.

TRANSLATION

Lord Ramacandra, fully bathed and His head clean-shaven, dressed Himself very nicely and was decorated with a garland and ornaments. Thus He shone brightly, surrounded by His brothers and wife, who were similarly dressed and ornamented.

SB9.10.50

TEXT 50

agrahid asanam bhratra

pranipatya prasaditah

prajah sva-dharma-nirata

varnasrama-gunanvitah

jugopa pitrvad ramo

menire pitaram ca tam

SYNONYMS

agrahit—accepted; asanam—the throne of the state; bhratra—by His brother (Bharata); pranipatya—after fully surrendering unto Him; prasaditah—having been pleased; prajah—and the citizens; sva-dharma-niratah—fully engaged in their respective occupational duties; varnasrama—according to the system of varna and asrama; guna-anvitah—all of them being qualified in that process; jugopa—the Lord protected them; pitr-vat—exactly like a father; ramah—Lord Ramacandra; menire—they considered; pitaram—exactly like a father; ca—also; tam—Him, Lord Ramacandra.

TRANSLATION

Being pleased by the full surrender and submission of Lord Bharata, Lord Ramacandra then accepted the throne of the state. He cared for the citizens exactly like a father, and the citizens, being fully engaged in their occupational duties of varna and asrama, accepted Him as their father.

PURPORT

People are very fond of the pattern of Rama-rajya, and even today politicians sometimes form a party called Rama-rajya, but unfortunately they have no obedience to Lord Rama. It is sometimes said that people want the kingdom of God without God. Such an aspiration, however, is never to be fulfilled. Good government can exist when the relationship between the citizens and the government is like that exemplified by Lord Ramacandra and His citizens. Lord Ramacandra ruled His kingdom exactly as a father takes care of his children, and the citizens, being obliged to the good government of Lord Ramacandra, accepted the Lord as their father. Thus the relationship between the citizens and the government should be exactly like that between father and son. When the sons in a family are well trained, they are obedient to the father and mother, and when the father is well qualified, he takes good care of the children. As indicated here by the words sva-dharma-nirata varnasrama-gunan-vitah, the people were good citizens because they accepted the institution of varna and asrama, which arranges society in the varna divisions of brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra and the asrama divisions of brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. This is actual human civilization. People must be trained according to the different varnasrama occupational duties. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (4.13), catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: the four varnas must be established according to varying qualities and work. The first principle for good government is that it must institute this varnasrama system. The purpose of varnasrama is to enable people to become God conscious. Varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman visnur aradhyate. The entire varnasrama scheme is intended to enable people to become Vaisnavas. Visnur asya devata. When people worship Lord Visnu as the Supreme Lord, they become Vaisnavas. Thus people should be trained to become Vaisnavas through the system of varna and asrama, as they were during the reign of Lord Ramacandra, when everyone was fully trained to follow the varnasrama principles.

Simply enforcing laws and ordinances cannot make the citizens obedient and lawful. That is impossible. Throughout the entire world there are so many states, legislative assemblies and parliaments, but still the citizens are rogues and thieves. Good citizenship, therefore, cannot be enforced; the citizens must be trained. As there are schools and colleges to train students to become chemical engineers, lawyers or specialists in many other departments of knowledge, there must be schools and colleges to train students to become brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudras, brahmacaris, grhasthas, vanaprasthas and sannyasis. This will provide the preliminary condition for good citizenship (varnasrama-gunan-vitah). Generally speaking, if the king or president is a rajarsi, the relationship between the citizens and the chief executive will be clear, and there will be no possibility of disruption in the state, because the number of thieves and rogues will decrease. In Kali-yuga, however, because the varnasrama system is neglected, people are generally thieves and rogues. In the system of democracy, such thieves and rogues naturally collect money from other thieves and rogues, and thus there is chaos in every government, and no one is happy. But here the example of good government is to be found in the reign of Lord Ramacandra. If people follow this example, there will be good government all over the world.

SB9.10.51

TEXT 51

tretayam vartamanayam

kalah krta-samo ’bhavat

rame rajani dharma-jne

sarva-bhuta-sukhavahe

SYNONYMS

tretayam—in the Treta-yuga; vartamanayam—although situated in that period; kalah—the period; krta—with Satya-yuga; samah—equal; abhavat—it so became; rame—because of Lord Ramacandra’s being present; rajani—as the ruling king; dharma-jne—because He was fully religious; sarva-bhuta—of all living entities; sukha-avahe—giving full happiness.

TRANSLATION

Lord Ramacandra became King during Treta-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga. Everyone was religious and completely happy.

PURPORT

Among the four yugas—Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali—the Kali-yuga is the worst, but if the process of varnasrama-dharma is introduced, even in this age of Kali, the situation of Satya-yuga can be invoked. The Hare Krsna movement, or Krsna consciousness movement, is meant for this purpose.

kaler dosa-nidhe rajann
asti hy eko mahan gunah
kirtanad eva krsnasya
mukta-sangah param vrajet

“My dear King, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: simply by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” (Bhag. 12.3.51) If people take to this sankirtana movement of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Rama, they will certainly be freed from the contamination of Kali-yuga, and the people of this age will be happy, as people were in Satya-yuga, the golden age. Anyone, anywhere, can easily take to this Hare Krsna movement; one need only chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, observe the rules and regulations, and stay free from the contamination of sinful life. Even if one is sinful and cannot give up sinful life immediately, if he chants the Hare Krsna maha-mantra with devotion and faith he will certainly be freed from all sinful activities, and his life will be successful. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. This is the blessing of Lord Ramacandra, who has appeared in this age of Kali as Lord Gaurasundara.

SB9.10.52

TEXT 52

vanani nadyo girayo

varsani dvipa-sindhavah

sarve kama-dugha asan

prajanam bharatarsabha

SYNONYMS

vanani—the forests; nadyah—the rivers; girayah—the hills and mountains; varsani—various parts of the states or divisions on the surface of the earth; dvipa—islands; sindhavah—the oceans and seas; sarve—all of them; kama-dughah—full of their respective opulences; asan—existed like that; prajanam—of all the living beings; bharata-rsabha—O Maharaja Pariksit, best of the Bharata dynasty.

TRANSLATION

O Maharaja Pariksit, best of the Bharata dynasty, during the reign of Lord Ramacandra the forests, the rivers, the hills and mountains, the states, the seven islands and the seven seas were all favorable in supplying the necessities of life for all living beings.

SB9.10.53

TEXT 53

nadhi-vyadhi-jara-glani-

duhkha-soka-bhaya-klamah

mrtyus canicchatam nasid

rame rajany adhoksaje

SYNONYMS

na—not; adhiadhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika sufferings (that is, sufferings from the body and mind, from other living entities and from nature); vyadhi—diseases; jara—old age; glani—bereavement; duhkha—grief; soka—lamentation; bhaya—fear; klamah—and fatigue; mrtyuh—death; ca—also; anicchatam—of those who did not like it; na asit—there was not; rame—during the rule of Lord Ramacandra; rajani—because of His being the king; adhoksaje—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond this material world.

TRANSLATION

When Lord Ramacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the King of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it.

PURPORT

All these facilities existed because of Lord Ramacandra’s presence as the King of the entire world. A similar situation could be introduced immediately, even in this age called Kali, the worst of all ages. It is said, kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara: Krsna descends in this Kali-yuga in the form of His holy name—Hare Krsna, Hare Rama. If we chant offenselessly, Rama and Krsna are still present in this age. The kingdom of Rama was immensely popular and beneficial, and the spreading of this Hare Krsna movement can immediately introduce a similar situation, even in this Kali-yuga.

SB9.10.54

TEXT 54

eka-patni-vrata-dharo

rajarsi-caritah sucih

sva-dharmam grha-medhiyam

siksayan svayam acarat

SYNONYMS

eka-patni-vrata-dharah—taking a vow not to accept a second wife or to have any connection with any other woman; raja-rsi—like a saintly king; caritah—whose character; sucih—pure; sva-dharmam—one’s own occupational duty; grha-medhiyam—especially of persons situated in household life; siksayan—teaching (by personal behavior); svayam—personally; acarat—executed His duty.

TRANSLATION

Lord Ramacandra took a vow to accept only one wife and have no connection with any other women. He was a saintly king, and everything in His character was good, untinged by qualities like anger. He taught good behavior for everyone, especially for householders, in terms of varnasrama-dharma. Thus He taught the general public by His personal activities.

PURPORT

Eka-patni-vrata, accepting only one wife, was the glorious example set by Lord Ramacandra. One should not accept more than one wife. In those days, of course, people did marry more than one wife. Even Lord Ramacandra’s father accepted more wives than one. But Lord Ramacandra, as an ideal king, accepted only one wife, mother Sita. When mother Sita was kidnapped by Ravana and the Raksasas, Lord Ramacandra, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, could have married hundreds and thousands of Sitas, but to teach us how faithful He was to His wife, He fought with Ravana and finally killed him. The Lord punished Ravana and rescued His wife to instruct men to have only one wife. Lord Ramacandra accepted only one wife and manifested sublime character, thus setting an example for householders. A householder should live according to the ideal of Lord Ramacandra, who showed how to be a perfect person. Being a householder or living with a wife and children is never condemned, provided one lives according to the regulative principles of varnasrama-dharma. Those who live in accordance with these principles, whether as householders, brahmacaris or vanaprasthas, are all equally important.

SB9.10.55

TEXT 55

premnanuvrttya silena

prasrayavanata sati

bhiya hriya ca bhava-jna

bhartuh sitaharan manah

SYNONYMS

premna anuvrttya—because of service rendered to the husband with love and faith; silena—by such good character; prasraya-avanata—always very submissive and ready to satisfy the husband; sati—chaste; bhiya—by being afraid; hriya—by shyness; ca—also; bhava-jna—understanding the attitude (of the husband); bhartuh—of her husband, Lord Ramacandra; sita—mother Sita; aharat—simply captivated; manah—the mind.

TRANSLATION

Mother Sita was very submissive, faithful, shy and chaste, always understanding the attitude of her husband. Thus by her character and her love and service she completely attracted the mind of the Lord.

PURPORT

As Lord Ramacandra is the ideal husband (eka-patni-vrata), mother Sita is the ideal wife. Such a combination makes family life very happy. Yad yad acarati sresthas tat tad evetaro janah: whatever example a great man sets, common people follow. If the kings, the leaders, and the brahmanas, the teachers, would set forth the examples we receive from Vedic literature, the entire world would be heaven; indeed, there would no longer be hellish conditions within this material world.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Ninth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Ramacandra.”

Next chapter (SB 9.11)