Rama-rajya means responsible government. Even during the time of Lord Ramachandra, one brahmana's son died. So he went to the king to challenge that "What kind of king you are that in the presence of the father the son is dying?" This is responsible government.

Responsible Government Means Respond

The government leaders must take responsibility to see that everyone is suitably employed

Formerly, the government was monarchy. So all the kings, all the government head men, they understood Bhagavad-gita. That is needed. This science, Bhagavad-gita, must be learned by the leaders. The society is managed by the leaders, by the kings, by the brahmanas. That is Vedic culture. The brahmanas, they give guidance according to the shastra, and the king is trained up in such a way that he takes instruction from the saintly persons and brahmanas and rules over the kingdom. Therefore it was so perfect.

We are aspiring after rama-rajya. Why rama-rajya? What is the difference between rama-rajya and this rajya [kingdom or government]? There is difference. Rama-rajya means responsible government. Even during the time of Lord Ramachandra, one brahmana's son died. So he went to the king to challenge that "What kind of king you are that in the presence of the father the son is dying?" This is responsible government. Responsible government means that a son cannot die before the presence of father. In the Maharaja Yudhishthira's time also, there was no anxiety, adhibhautika, adhidaivika, adhyatmika[1]. These are stated in the shastra. They were so free, so, I mean to say, carefree. There was no care, no anxiety. Everyone was happy. You'll find in the Bhagavatam. As soon as there was enemy attack in the Dvaraka city, immediately the kings, royal family, Krishna's family, Pradyumna, His son, and others, immediately go out of the city and combat with the enemies. This was the system. People were very carefree. No care, no anxiety. That is the duty of the government. And how to keep the citizens carefree? That you require authorized instruction. That instruction is Bhagavad-gita.

So it is the duty of the government, the government officers, the head of the government — they should learn Bhagavad-gita. Here it is said, evam parampara-praptam imam rajarshayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. The rajas, the kings, the government, they understood. Therefore the kingdom was so peaceful, without any cares for the citizens. The citizens were also trained up very nicely, brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra[2]. Everyone is employed. It is the duty of the government to see that everyone is engaged. Otherwise, idle brain will manufacture devil's brain. They will manufacture so many things, and there will be chaos. In every country nowadays, all over the world, there is so much unemployment. Why there... Why one should be unemployed? He must be trained up in such a way that he's employed, he's engaged. This is the duty. So if you understand Bhagavad-gita, then you'll be able to train your students, your citizens, your subordinates, how to remain engaged. Just like in our Krishna consciousness society, we are simply after the people, whether he is engaged or not. There must be engagement. If one remains idle, then it will be devil's workshop. Immediately maya will dictate, "Do this, do this nonsense, do that nonsense, do that nonsense."

So it is the duty of the brahmana, it is the duty of the father, it is the duty of the public leader, it is the duty of the government to see that everyone is engaged, everyone is employed. As a brahmana, he must be engaged in studying Vedic literature for instructing others. That is brahmana's business. And kshatriya's business is to give protection. Just like Krishna was playing as a kshatriya in Dvaraka. As soon as there is some attack, immediately whole family goes to fight — Krishna, Balarama, Pradyumna. You have seen in the Bhagavata [Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavata Purana]. kshatriya's business is to give protection, and vaishya's business is to give protection to the cows. As kshatriya's business is to give protection to the citizens, human beings, similarly, vaishya's business is to give protection to the cows, not to send them to the slaughterhouse — to see the cows are very well-fed, they are fatty, strong, that they must be given food, sufficient food.

So because they do not read Bhagavad-gita, they do not know how to maintain the whole society, therefore there is now chaos. Therefore it is needed. Imam rajarshayo viduh. The raja, the kings, the government, or the government, they must study Bhagavad-gita. Then it will be nice. Imam raja... And rishayah. Rishayah means great saintly persons, the brahmanas. They should give to the government men... But who is consulting the saintly persons? Just like we are trying to preach this Bhagavad-gita. We are trying to give the essence of knowledge.