Rām-Ideal King

Rām was so saintly king that even now we are anxious to live in his kingdom. He was righteous & always thought about his citizens welfare & took extreme decisions even at the cost of his own discomfort. Rām didn’t show any cowardice. Rāvan was an aggressor & when he kidnapped Sitā, he was given sufficient lessons from Rām

Srimad Bhagavatam compares 4 divisions of society to different parts of the body-head, arms, belly & the legs. Just as all parts of the body cooperate to keep body fit, in the ideal state all sections of society cooperate under the leadership of brahmanas. Comparatively, head is the most important part of the body, for it gives directions to other parts of the body. Similarly, ideal state functions under directions of brahmanas, who are not personally interested in political affairs or administration because they have higher duty. Rām always consulted Brahmanas for running the kingdom & served them with reverence

Whenever there is some negligence on part of the king in discharging his duty, Brahmanas must dethrone him. But they don't occupy the royal throne, because they have much more important duties for welfare of public

A king’s qualification is judged by temperament of people in the kingdom. If they are happy in all respects, it is to be understood that king is honest & is executing his duties rightly. Kshatriya who is thoroughly trained by culture & devotional service with martial spirit makes a perfect king

King Parikshit was an ideal king & householder because he was a devotee of the Supreme Lord. A devotee of Lord automatically has all good qualifications. Personally, he had no attachment for worldly opulences in his possession, but was always busy in welfare work for public, not only for this life, but also for next. He would not allow slaughterhouses or killing of cows. He was not foolish & partial administrator who would arrange for protection of one living being & allow another to be killed

Parikshit perfectly conducted his administration for everyone’s happiness-men, animals, plants, & all living creatures. He was not selfishly interested. Selfishness is either self-centered or self-extended. He was neither

Therefore, king’s interest is to guide all subjects back to the kingdom of God. Hence the activities of the citizens should be so coordinated that they can at the end go back home, back to Godhead. Under the administration of a representative king, the kingdom is full of opulence, says Srila Prabhupada

Also, an ideal king also applies violence when necessary. In Parasara Smriti it is stated

ksatriyo hi praja raksan Sastra panih pradandayan

nirjitya para sainyadi ksitih dharmena palayet

The ksatriya’s duty is to protect citizens from all kinds of difficulties, and for that reason he has to apply violence in suitable cases for law and order. Therefore, he has to conquer the soldiers of inimical kings, and thus, with religious principles, he should rule over the world

Thoughts? #gameoflife