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. The government—they must study Bhagavad-gita. Then it will be nice.

A President in need of solutions

Mitigating the distress of the people

It is the duty of the king to see that everyone in the social orders—brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra—is fully employed in the state. Just as it is the duty of the brahmanas to elect a proper king, it is the duty of the king to see that all the varnas—brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra—are fully engaged in their respective occupational duties. It is here indicated that although the people were allowed to perform their duties, they were still unemployed. Although they were not lazy, they still could not produce sufficient food to satisfy their hunger. When the people are perplexed in this way, they should approach the head of government, and the president or king should take immediate action to mitigate the distress of the people.

Social orders and occupations

A king is supposed to be appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead to look after the interests of his particular planet. On every planet there is a predominating person, just as we now see that in every country there is a president. If one is president or king, it should be understood that this opportunity has been given to him by the Supreme Lord. According to the Vedic system, the king is considered a representative of Godhead and is offered respects by the citizens as God in the human form of life. Actually, according to Vedic information, the Supreme Lord maintains all living entities, and especially human beings, to elevate them to the highest perfection. After many, many births in lower species, when a living entity evolves to the human form of life and in particular to the civilized human form of life, his society must be divided into four gradations, as ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Bhagavad-gita (chatur-varnyam maya srishtam, etc. [Bg. 4.13]). The four social orders—the brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras—are natural divisions of human society, and as declared by Prithu Maharaja, every man in his respective social order must have proper employment for his livelihood. It is the duty of the king or the government to insure that the people observe the social order and that they are also employed in their respective occupational duties. In modern times, since the protection of the government or the king has been withdrawn, social order has practically collapsed. No one knows who is a brahmana, who is a kshatriya, who is a vaishya or who is a shudra, and people claim to belong to a particular social order by birthright only. It is the duty of the government to reestablish social order in terms of occupational duties and the modes of material nature, for that will make the entire world population actually civilized. If it does not observe the institutional functions of the four social orders, human society is no better than animal society in which there is never tranquillity, peace and prosperity but only chaos and confusion. Maharaja Prithu, as an ideal king, strictly observed the maintenance of the Vedic social order.

Government leaders should study Bhagavad-gita

We are aspiring after rama-rajya [government modeled after that of Lord Rama]. Why rama-rajya? What is the difference between rama-rajya and this rajya? 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. 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 went out of the city and combated 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 rajahs, 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. 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. 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 being, 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. The rajahs, the kings, or the government—they must study Bhagavad-gita. Then it will be nice. And rishayah. Rishayah means great saintly persons, the brahmanas. They should give counsel 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. Satatam kirtayanto mam yatantash cha dridha-vratah [Bg. 9.14]. Mahatma. The symptoms of mahatma is that he is always engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord. Satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg. 9.14]. The Bhagavad-gita says that chatur-vidha bhajante mam: "Four classes of men comes to worship Me." ... So the devotees are engaged in seva, in service of the Lord.

...And now we are accused of creating nuisance, because we are engaged in bhajana [worship of the Lord]. If we are engaged in drinking wine and playing cards with some prostitute, that is very advanced. That is very advanced society. He's peacefully drinking and playing cards with prostitute. He's advanced. And because he's chanting Hare Krishna, he's creating nuisance. This is the government. Therefore the first teaching of Bhagavad-gita should be taken by the persons who are going to be elected in the government service. The public should be aware of this. If somebody comes to canvass for votes, you should first inquire, "Whether you have read Bhagavad-gita? Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi showed Bhagavad-gita. Why should you not? Do you know what is Bhagavad-gita? Then I shall give you vote. Otherwise get out."

Rajarshayo viduh [saintly leader]. This is required now, if you want to be saved from the crisis that is coming very gradually. Crisis means there will be... Now in black market you can get things, means eatables, rice, wheat. But if you don't take to Bhagavad-gita, there will be no more even if you pay black price. That time is coming. There will be no more available. There will be no milk. There will be no more sugar, sugar. There will be no more rice. There will be no more wheat. No more fruits. Then you have to eat meat. Oh, beef shop. Then that will go on. Then human shop also. Gradually come. You have to eat the human being also. Carnivores. So it is therefore a great necessity, that rajarshayo viduh. Those who are government men, they must study Bhagavad-gita. Otherwise don't give them vote.