In this livestream and Q&A session, Sri Dharma Pravartaka Acharya explains the character attributes of true rulers, honest political leaders, and righteous kings. This is very timely talk given the upcoming presidential election in America. Please set a reminder for this livestream, and forward to the link to others.
“The political ruler (naradhipa, i.e., the “ruler of men”) should have great energy (utsaha), discriminating aims (sthula-laksha), memory of the deeds (both good and bad) of others (kritijna), should serve the elderly (vriddha-sevaka), be disciplined and ethical (vinita), endowed with equanimity (sattvasampanna), descended from a noble family (kulina), truthful in speech (sattvavak), pure (shuchi), not procrastinating (adirgha-sutra), of strong memory (smritiman), devoid of low or mean qualities (akshudra), and not harsh toward others (aparusha). He should be Dharmic is all things (dharmika) and without bad personal habits (avyasana), intelligent (prajna), courageous (shura), expert in keeping important secrets (rahasya-vit), and a good guardian of his own weak points (svarandhra-gopta). He should be well-versed in the knowledge of atman (true self) (anvikshiki), the science of the punishment of evil (dandaniti), the economy and agriculture (varta), and expert in the threefold science (vinita-trayam) of: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda.” (Yajnavalkya Smriti, 309-311)
“The political ruler (naradhipa, i.e., the “ruler of men”) should have great energy (utsaha), discriminating aims (sthula-laksha), memory of the deeds (both good and bad) of others (kritijna), should serve the elderly (vriddha-sevaka), be disciplined and ethical (vinita), endowed with equanimity (sattvasampanna), descended from a noble family (kulina), truthful in speech (sattvavak), pure (shuchi), not procrastinating (adirgha-sutra), of strong memory (smritiman), devoid of low or mean qualities (akshudra), and not harsh toward others (aparusha). He should be Dharmic is all things (dharmika) and without bad personal habits (avyasana), intelligent (prajna), courageous (shura), expert in keeping important secrets (rahasya-vit), and a good guardian of his own weak points (svarandhra-gopta). He should be well-versed in the knowledge of atman (true self) (anvikshiki), the science of the punishment of evil (dandaniti), the economy and agriculture (varta), and expert in the threefold science (vinita-trayam) of: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda.” (Yajnavalkya Smriti, 309-311)