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Representative of the government

Expressions researched:
"representative of the government" |"representatives of the government"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is

BG Chapters 7 - 12

BG 9.23, Translation and Purport: Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kuntī, but they do so in a wrong way. "Persons who are engaged in the worship of demigods are not very intelligent, although such worship is offered to Me indirectly," Kṛṣṇa says. For example, when a man pours water on the leaves and branches of a tree without pouring water on the root, he does so without sufficient knowledge or without observing regulative principles. Similarly, the process of rendering service to different parts of the body is to supply food to the stomach. The demigods are, so to speak, different officers and directors in the government of the Supreme Lord. One has to follow the laws made by the government, not by the officers or directors. Similarly, everyone is to offer his worship to the Supreme Lord only. That will automatically satisfy the different officers and directors of the Lord. The officers and directors are engaged as representatives of the government, and to offer some bribe to the officers and directors is illegal. This is stated here as avidhi-pūrvakam. In other words, Kṛṣṇa does not approve the unnecessary worship of the demigods.

Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 7

SB 7.3.24, Purport: In effect, Kṛṣṇa says, "Persons engaged in the worship of demigods are not very intelligent, although such worship is indirectly offered to Me." For example, when a man pours water on the leaves and branches of a tree without pouring water on the root, he does so without sufficient knowledge or without observing regulative principles. The process of watering a tree is to pour water on the root. Similarly, the process of rendering service to different parts of the body is to supply food to the stomach. The demigods are, so to speak, different officers and directors in the government of the Supreme Lord. One has to follow the laws made by the government, not by the officers or directors. Similarly, everyone is to offer his worship to the Supreme Lord only. That will automatically satisfy the different officers and directors of the Lord. The officers and directors are engaged as representatives of the government, and to offer some bribe to the officers and directors is illegal. This is stated in Bhagavad-gītā as avidhi-pūrvakam. In other words, Kṛṣṇa does not approve the unnecessary worship of the demigods.

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Lecture on SB 1.16.7 -- Los Angeles, January 4, 1974: But Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa informs us that wherever you may go, the Yamarāja is ready, the representative of Kṛṣṇa as Yamarāja. Just like the magistrate is also the representative of the government. So he is ready to come exactly as you finish your terms of duration of life. That is the way.
Lecture on SB 6.1.34-39 -- Surat, December 19, 1970: The Viṣṇudūtas challenged the Yamadūta that "If you are actually the servants of your master, Dharmarāja..." Yamarāja is Dharmarāja. Another name is Dharmarāja. He is also representative of God. Just like a magistrate, he also deals with the criminal cases, but magistrate is not bad. Magistrate is representative of the government. Similarly, Dharmarāja, although punishes all criminals or sinful persons, but he is a pure servant of God. Therefore his name is Dharmarāja. He is executing the order of the master. So therefore the Viṣṇudūtas challenged the Yamadūtas that "If you are actually serving your master, Dharmarāja..." Just like a police constable is supposed to know the law, whom to arrest. If he arrests anyone and everyone, then he is a fool. He cannot arrest anyone and everyone. He cannot arrest a law-abiding man. Similarly, the Yamadūtas, they also cannot take away to the court of the Yamarāja everyone and anyone. No. Only the nondevotees are taken. Those who are devotees, they are not taken.
Page Title:Representative of the government
Compiler:Labangalatika
Created:29 of Dec, 2008
Totals by Section:BG=1, SB=1, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=2, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:4