SB 10.89.28 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

धनदारात्मजापृक्ता यत्र शोचन्ति ब्राह्मणा: । ते वै राजन्यवेषेण नटा जीवन्त्यसुम्भरा: ॥ २८ ॥

Verse text

dhana-dārātmajāpṛktā yatra śocanti brāhmaṇāḥ te vai rājanya-veṣeṇa naṭā jīvanty asum-bharāḥ

Synonyms

dhana — from wealth ; dāra — wives ; ātmaja — and children ; apṛktāḥ — separated ; yatra — in which (situation) ; śocanti — lament ; brāhmaṇāḥ — brāhmaṇas ; te — they ; vai — indeed ; rājanya — veṣeṇa — disguised as kings ; naṭāḥ — actors ; jīvanti — they live ; asum — bharāḥ — earning their own livelihood .

Translation

“The rulers of a kingdom in which brāhmaṇas lament over lost wealth, wives and children are merely imposters playing the role of kings just to earn their livelihood.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

"The rulers of a kingdom in which brāhmaṇas lament over lost wealth, wives and children are merely imposters playing the role of kings just to earn their livelihood. KB 10.89.28 “If the brāhmaṇas feel unwanted separation from their wives and children,” Arjuna continued, “and the kṣatriya kings do not take care of them, then such kṣatriyas are to be considered no more than stage players. In dramatic performances in the theater, an actor may play the part of a king, but no one expects any benefits from such a make-believe king. Similarly, if the king or the executive head of a state cannot give protection to the head of the social structure, he is considered merely a bluffer. Such executive heads simply live for their own livelihood while occupying exalted posts as chiefs of state.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Hear the proof of the low quality of ksatriya present here. "When brahmanas lament because of loss of wealth, wife or children, where the ksatriya lives, that ksatriya is only an imposter."

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

He supposes the worst situation. Wealth, wives and children are in order of importance, protection of children being most important.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

He supposes the worst situation. Wealth, wives and children are in order of importance, protection of children being most important. Vai means well known or they are just (vai) imposters, living to maintain themselves.