Knowledge

The saintly kings were fully qualified in the science of government and practical affairs, and thus their kingdoms displayed material prosperity and abundance far beyond anything we see today. Such kings, however, were also well-trained in scriptural knowledge. When King Chitraketu became overwhelmed by material affection, he was enlightened by Angira and Narada. The King was able to escape the dark well of family life, just as an elephant is freed from a muddy pond. In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna describes how transcendental knowledge was “passed down through disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.” Thus, their combined knowledge of material and spiritual helped guide all the citizens on a progressive path.