Pradyumna: . . . lation: "O brāhmins, the ninth incarnation of the Lord, prayed for by sages, was King Pṛthu, who cultivated the land to yield various produces, and for that reason the earth was beautiful and attractive." (SB 1.3.14)
Prabhupāda: So this refers to King Pṛthu, Mahārāja Pṛthu. So his father's name was King Veṇa. And his father's name was . . . I don't remember. Perhaps Aṅga, like that. So the Veṇa's father married one woman, she was the daughter of Death; means the family was not very good. So as a result of this marriage, a son was born whose name was Veṇa, who came out to be first-class rogue.
So the father of Veṇa wanted to reform him in so many ways, but he could not. The son was not to be corrected. So the father became disgusted, and one day he left home without any knowledge of the family members or the officers and king. He left.
Then the great sages and brāhmins, because without king there was irregularities in the kingdom . . . just like we have got experience: if there is no good government, strong government, the rogues, thieves, smugglers and so many other disrupting elements, they will grow. Because they are always existing.
They find out the opportunity. As soon as there is some revolution, political upsurge, or mismanagement of the government, these undesirable elements, they come out. So when the father of Veṇa Mahārāja left home, the kingdom became unruly. Therefore the sages and saintly persons, they asked the queen that, "Your son, although he is worthless, so let him become king. There must be some king."
So this Veṇa was made king by the desire of the saintly person. The significance is that formerly the brāhmins, the kṣatriyas, the vaiśyas and the śūdras, these four departments, they must remain. Varṇāśrama. That must be maintained, class division. So the brāhmins, the saintly persons, sages, they used to recommend that, "Yes, this person is fit for becoming king." Then the coronation was celebrated. Or . . . this means that the kṣatriyas were under the order of the brāhmins.
So when Veṇa become king, of course, the rogues and thieves, they were immediately subdued. Because rogues and thieves, and here the king is also greater rogue. So the smaller rogues were subdued immediately. That was one of the benefit, because he was very strong and cruel. Immediately caught, a rogue, he will immediately cut off his head. So they were subdued. But he himself is a rogue. Nūnaṁ mahatāṁ tatra.
This is our experience. "Might is right." If you are stronger, then you can subdue less strong. But he became very much disturbing. He was atheist, and he ordered that "There is no God. I am God. So what I say, you have to abide." The brāhmins were also . . . "You cannot perform yajñas. This is not required." In this way, he became too much disturbing.
Then one day all the brāhmins and the sages, they came to give him instruction, "My dear king, it is not your duty to stop all kinds of religious activities." Just like the Communist government. Yes. But who hears? He said: "No. Why you are trying to pacify God? I am God. You just act. If you are actually God conscious, then you act according to my order." So when the sages and brāhmins became disgusted, he was killed by the brāhmins, by their order. You see? The brāhmins were so strong, by simply cursing, they could kill anyone.
So the Veṇa was killed. Then again the rogues and thieves came out. Then from the body of Veṇa, they created two sons. One son was black, and he was ordered that "You go to the forest." Because they could know that he is exactly son of the father. Niṣāda. Niṣāda. They were sent . . . he was sent to the forest. And then the King Pṛthu was born. The King Pṛthu, He is incarnation of . . . power incarnation of God, śaktyāveśāvatāra. So he proved himself as a great king on this earth. He produced foodstuff, food grains, profusely. That from the life of King Pṛthu we can understand.