Sookti by Parama Pujya Swamiji
rājñaḥ dharmiṇi dharmiṣṭhāḥ pape papa parāḥ sadā |
rājānamanuvartante yathā rajā tathā prajāḥ ||
If the king that rules the country are desirous of walking the path of Dharma, the kingdom will also be Dharmic. It is said in Kannada that the younger ones in the family imbibe the nature of the elders. If the king is dharmic and undertakes noble deeds, the people will follow suit. If the king is sinful and given to wicked deeds, the kingdom will be filled with sins. We saw numerous stories about this in the Mahabharata. People follow the example set by the king. Just as the king needs to be dharmic and set an example for his people, the elders in the house need to set an example for the younger ones.
yathā rajā tathā prajāḥ - is an oft-quoted, old adage. “Raja” does not only mean king. The head of the household is also like king. The oldest among siblings is also king. Using the example of the king and the citizens, this sookti cautions everyone. The Guru is king too. Only when Guru is good will the disciples be good. If the Guru is not of good conduct, the disciples will get corrupted too. Normally, parents try to lovingly bring up their children while instilling discipline in them. They teach the children morals and rules. They keep reminding the kids to study hard and score well in exams. They tell the children to not stay up late at night, and to wake up before sunrise. The children decide firmly to follow what the parents say and go to bed early. But when the parents do not follow any one of the rules they preach, children too get lazy and destroy their intellect. They do not listen to the elders. If parents stay up late watching TV till midnight, why will the children listen to the parents? The children will get curious too to watch TV. If the parents do not offer worship to God, why will the children? The parents keep reminding the children though, to go to bed early and rise early. How will the parents who were up until midnight watching TV be able to wake up early in the morning? They will sleep in and so will the children. It is only when the elders do, that kids will follow. This is commonplace in all households. Young children sometimes imitate parents and grandparents. You can test this for yourself. The son walks just like the father does. Privately observe the antics of young children. A child might mimic his father in front of his friends by pretending to hold a cigarette and letting out puffs of smoke. The friends laugh. Children regale each other by imitating their sparring parents. You can see for yourself. They do not know the right or wrong in it. The kids act out and show their friends exactly as their parents act.
Therefore, this sookti teaches us that those who wish to instill discipline in children and inculcate good habits in them should set an example for their children through their own actions. Many come to Swamiji and remain standing, but force the kids to offer prostrations. The children do not know how to. The parents must show them. We make many such mistakes. You heard so far how the parents must take on the responsibility of bringing up children correctly.
Let us learn how the king who has the responsibility of caring for his people as if they were his own children should behave. The king should follow Dharma, be virtuous and follow truth, nonviolence and discipline. These five can transform the society entirely. Protecting Dharma does not mean hiding Dharma away from everyone. Protecting Dharma means adhering to Dharma. The king who rules the country should adhere to Dharma wholeheartedly. He must first do his duty and encourage Vedic rituals and organize Yajnas. He must be truthful and must live with strict observances and discipline, and thus set an example for people. If the king does this, the people in the country will all have great faith in Dharmic deeds. That will prevent natural disasters and other afflictions. There will be timely rains and the country will be safe, green and prosperous. There be no burglaries and robberies. But Mother Earth grieves when wicked kings rule the earth. Famines become widespread, crops and foods will disappear and even mute animals die due to lack of food. Dacoits and thieves will increase in number and will loot whatever they can. People will take their own lives. The country will be filled with addicts to gambling, alcohol and other vices. The people follow their king’s conduct.
Observing such a plight, the elders proclaimed yathā rajā tathā prajāḥ. Therefore, the king who rules the people should be dharmic. The head of the household is like king. The oldest of the sibling is like king. The young ones will emulate the elders, so be careful.
This sookti is very applicable these days to parents and children. Young children do not know right from wrong. They observe adults carefully and simply do as the parents do. Therefore, the parents should not only use mere words to teach the children, but should teach through their own actions. They must be role models for children. This is a good sookti all of you should follow.