Biggest gift!

Bhisma said to Maharaj Yudhisthira - A king should imitate the activities of the flower cultivator and not the manufacturer of charcoal. The flower grower waters his plants & trees carefully and takes from them only their fruit & flowers. On the other hand, the maker of charcoal uproots the entire tree and burns it to get what he wants

 

If a sinless person associates with those who are sinful, he has to accept a share of their sinful reactions, just as the water that is associated with wood also becomes evaporated when there is fire. During the present lifetime, we see that the land holds the pious & the wicked equally. The Sun warms them both, water cleans them without distinction & the air blows on them equally. Their destinations are not the same, however for the righteous go to the heavenly planets, where they live without invalidity or lamentation, whereas the sinful go to the hellish planets, which are full of darkness, pain & sorrow

 

A king should appoint his brahmana priest even before his coronation. The preservation & development of a kingdom depends upon its king, but the preservation and growth of the king himself depend upon his priest. Thus, the brahmana class is ultimately the support of society. If one who is born in a brahmana family engages in performing low work, however, discarding his prescribed duties, he no longer deserves the respect that is offered to a genuine brahmana

 

Bhisma continued: Dear Yudhisthira, if the king does nothing more than protect his subjects, he receives 1/4th the merit they had acquired thro’ Vedic study, giving charity, worship of the demigods & the performance of sacrifice. On the other hand, when a king neglects to give his subjects full protection & thus allows them to suffer because of their sinful acts, he has to accept 1/4th of their sinful reactions

 

For example: If a thief steals the property of a citizen & the king is unable to recover it, the king receives 1/4th of the sinful reaction for the act of stealing. On the other hand, if the king gives the value of the stolen property to the afflicted person, he is absolved from having to suffer the sinful reaction. If a brahmana becomes a thief due to circumstances of extreme poverty, the king should arrange for his adequate support, but if the brahmana continues to steal, even after the arrangement has been made, he should be banished from the kingdom along with his family

 

Here Bhisma is speaking to Yudhisthira about Kshatriya duties. Peace & prosperity of society depends entirely upon its rulers. When the government is good, then all others can confidently perform their duties. Here it is mentioned that just as the welfare of all within the kingdom depends upon the king, so the welfare of the king himself depends upon his association with qualified brahmanas. It is for this reason that the highest regard should be given to those who properly guide others on the path back home back to Godhead

 

The biggest gift one can give to others is Krsna consciousness, so that he can go back home back to Godhead. Liberated from this material quagmire

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife

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