“O Ravana, inevitably all of the Rakshasas will be completely destroyed, for they have a person like you, who is stupid, lustful, and unable to control his senses, for their king.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 48.22)

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अवश्यं विनशिष्यन्ति सर्वे रावण राक्षसाः
येषां त्वं कर्कशो राजा दुर्बुद्धिरजितेन्द्रियः

avaśyaṃ vinaśiṣyanti sarve rāvaṇa rākṣasāḥ
yeṣāṃ tvaṃ karkaśo rājā durbuddhirajitendriyaḥ

1. Basic freedoms

“Where I live, it is not a headache to start a business. There is not so much red-tape. You could call it a ‘high trust’ society. I believe the leader sets the standard. Since they allow the people to generally do as they wish, without stepping on the rights of others, there is a sense of morality. We can voice our disagreements without fearing the government. We are not worried that innocent people will be placed in jail. We can decline medical treatment without being barred from participating in society. Freedom is the foundation, in my opinion.”

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

“Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.21)

2. Honest leadership

“Where I live, the leader is not a crook. They are honest, as far as the people can tell. When they promise to fix roads, bridges, and tunnels, the work gets accomplished in a timely manner. If the leader makes a mistake, they own up to it. They hold themselves up to the highest standard. It is not that they feel they are above the law.”

3. Commanding authority

“Where I live, the government is strong. People around the world use derisive terms like ‘dictatorship’ and ‘authoritarian’, but the truth is that people do not mind strength at the top. They rather come to expect it. The criminals have to know that there will be punishment. There is constant threat of foreign attack. Look at the history of the world. It is full of wars and atrocities committed in the name of acquisition. The only way to prevent that is bestowing the highest authority to the strongest in society. Sure, not everything is pretty, but where there is fire there is smoke. You have to break some eggs in order to make an omelet. You take the good with the bad.”

4. Reflective of the will of the people

“Where I live, the government works for the people. They represent us. That will is determined by a vote. The majority of the popular opinion prevails. Sometimes I do not approve of the direction we are going. Sometimes I strongly object, but at least the system is fair. I have an opportunity to voice my opinion; as does everyone else. Everyone has an equal opinion, in fact.”

5. Everyone working according to their nature

This is the original system established for the maintenance of society. The truth is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, which describes that system as varnashrama. There are four varnas, or general orders. There are four ashramas, or stages of life that are like institutions for advancement. The members of society fall into these designations based on the qualities they assume at the time of birth, guna, and the work they carry out, karma.

चातुर्-वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं
गुण-कर्म-विभागशः
तस्य कर्तारम् अपि मां
विद्ध्य् अकर्तारम् अव्ययम्

cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ
guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ
tasya kartāram api māṁ
viddhy akartāram avyayam

“According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.13)

Government is at the highest macro level, but consider a less complex example to see the principles play out. Take any successful organization. It could be a military unit, a corporation in the private sector, or even a training academy. The organization has divisions. Not every person is doing the same work. In fact, that would be counterproductive. The salesperson is not necessarily skilled at setting long term goals, placating the board of directors, or delivering speeches to shareholders in the company. The technology wizard is good at writing and testing code, but their ability to manage might not be the best. The people at the bottom of the corporate ladder, who generally take care of the menial tasks, are still important. They are like the foundation. The leader can only lead when there are people employed in the organization.

Varnashrama has the same principle, but applying to society as a whole. The rule is that every person should work. The leader makes sure that every capable person is working in a manner that matches their qualities. This is the way people will be happy. Whether that leader is elected, appointed, or inherits the post from their family, the same conditions are necessary.

If the priority is placed on freedom, then what happens when people exercise that freedom in a detrimental way? They overdose on drugs and alcohol. They are too depressed to follow any work. One group decides that they want to steal the resources of another. They work their way into politics and rise to the top. All they need is the support of the public, which can be easily acquired through pandering to envy, jealousy, greed, and unhappiness. Just vote for me and I will really stick it to the wealthy. Just how that will make you happier is anybody’s guess, but you should still vote for me.

In the Ramayana, Sita Devi reveals that there is a certain chain of events traced to a particular demerit in a leader. That attribute is called ajitendriyah. This is a compound Sanskrit word which is a negation of a more positive term. Jitendriyah refers to someone who has conquered their senses. What to speak of being vulnerable to bribery or changing their preferences based on influence, they cannot even be swayed by urges of the senses, be they long-held or newly found. Their commitment to dharma is strong.

The leader of Lanka was ajitendriyah, and that condition caused him to break the law in stealing another man’s wife. That one mistake would lead to the downfall of the entire community. A single man, with a single decision, can cause society itself to crumble. The single mistake would be due to ajitendriyah. We can naturally deduce that the opposite condition, of a healthy and flourishing society, would require jitendriyah in the leader.

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

yadi hy ahaṁ na varteyaṁ
jātu karmaṇy atandritaḥ
mama vartmānuvartante
manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ

“For, if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.23)

Shri Krishna, who is above the dualities of rising above or degrading in being led by the senses, still works. He sets the example for others. His work is always transcendental in nature, divyam, and the same transformation can take place for our work when we dedicate everything to Him. Whether our government is corrupt or honorable, whether our leaders are thoughtful or selfish, if we follow work according to our nature and always think of the speaker of Bhagavad-gita, we will not only live this life happily and successfully, but our future welfare will automatically be accounted for.

In Closing:

Jitendriyah leader the best,
By their control to be blessed.

Each one to their nature according,
In steady work fulfillment affording.

The proper societal governance to see,
Linked to transcendence to be.

Where Supreme’s interests taking,
Sacrifices for His benefit making.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, god, hare krishna, hinduism, poem, poems, poetry, religion