na yadā ratham āsthāya

na yadā ratham āsthāya

jaitraṁ maṇi-gaṇārpitam

visphūrjac-caṇḍa-kodaṇḍo

rathena trāsayann aghān

sva-sainya-caraṇa-kṣuṇṇaṁ

vepayan maṇḍalaṁ bhuvaḥ

vikarṣan bṛhatīṁ senāṁ

paryaṭasy aṁśumān iva

tadaiva setavaḥ sarve

varṇāśrama-nibandhanāḥ

bhagavad-racitā rājan

bhidyeran bata dasyubhiḥ

O King! If you, with bow of fearful vibration, did not tour the earth like the sun after mounting your victorious, jewel studded chariot, instilling fear in the sinful just by its presences, and shaking the earth with the footsteps of your huge army, the society established according varṇa and āśrama made by the Lord would be destroyed by the evil.

O King! Why have you come? But why should I ask that question, since I already know the answer. To state this, he makes a negative statement. If you did not travel the earth then the rules would be broken. Three verses are connected. The chariot was studded with jewels and gave victory. Just by the presence of the chariot, the evil become fearful.

 

 

|| 3.21.55||

adharmaś ca samedheta

lolupair vyaṅkuśair nṛbhiḥ

śayāne tvayi loko ’yaṁ

dasyu-grasto vinaṅkṣyati

O King! If you sleep without worry, irreligion will increase through uncontrolled people craving material pleasure. Tormented by the sinful, the population will be destroyed.  

|| 3.21.56||

athāpi pṛcche tvāṁ vīra

yad-arthaṁ tvam ihāgataḥ

tad vayaṁ nirvyalīkena

pratipadyāmahe hṛdā

O courageous warrior! I ask you why you have come to my hermitage. I accept the reason sincerely in my heart.

Though I know in general why you come, I still ask why you come to my leaf hut. You will not become successful in quelling the sinful by coming here. I accept the reason in my heart, sincerely or joyfully (nirvyalīkena).

 

Thus ends the commentary on Twenty-first Chapter of the Third Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas