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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.34
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 34
- brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatra-bandhur hi
- gṛha-pālo nirūpitaḥ
- sa kathaṁ tad-gṛhe dvāḥ-sthaḥ
- sabhāṇḍaṁ bhoktum arhati
brāhmaṇaiḥby the brahminical order — by the brahminical order; kṣatrathe sons of the kṣatriyas-bandhuḥthe sons of the kṣatriyas — the sons of the kṣatriyas; hicertainly — certainly; gṛhathe watchdog-pālaḥthe watchdog — the watchdog; nirūpitaḥdesignated — designated; saḥhe — he; kathamon what grounds — on what grounds; tatin the home of him (the master)-gṛhein the home of him (the master) — in the home of him (the master); dvāḥkeeping at the door-sthaḥkeeping at the door — keeping at the door; sain the same pot-bhāṇḍamin the same pot — in the same pot; bhoktumto eat — to eat; arhatideserves — deserves.
The descendants of the kingly orders are definitely designated as watchdogs, and they must keep themselves at the door. On what grounds can dogs enter the house and claim to dine with the master on the same plate?
The inexperienced brāhmaṇa boy certainly knew that the King asked for water from his father and the father did not respond. He tried to explain away his father's inhospitality in an impertinent manner befitting an uncultured boy. He was not at all sorry for the King's not being well received. On the contrary, he justified the wrong act in a way characteristic of the brāhmaṇas of Kali-yuga. He compared the King to a watchdog, and so it was wrong for the King to enter the home of a brāhmaṇa and ask for water from the same pot. The dog is certainly reared by its master, but that does not mean that the dog shall claim to dine and drink from the same pot. This mentality of false prestige is the cause of downfall of the perfect social order, and we can see that in the beginning it was started by the inexperienced son of a brāhmaṇa. As the dog is never allowed to enter within the room and hearth, although it is reared by the master, similarly, according to Śṛṅgi, the King had no right to enter the house of Śamīka Ṛṣi. According to the boy's opinion, the King was on the wrong side and not his father, and thus he justified his silent father.