# SB 4.17.9 > मैत्रेय उवाच > यदाभिषिक्तः पृथुरङ्ग विप्रैरामन्त्रितो जनतायाश्च पालः । > प्रजा निरन्ने क्षितिपृष्ठ एत्य क्षुत्क्षामदेहाः पतिमभ्यवोचन् ॥९॥ ## Text > maitreya uvāca > yadābhiṣiktaḥ pṛthur aṅga viprair > āmantrito janatāyāś ca pālaḥ > prajā niranne kṣiti-pṛṣṭha etya > kṣut-kṣāma-dehāḥ patim abhyavocan ## Synonyms *maitreyaḥ uvāca*—the great sage Maitreya said; *yadā*—when; *abhiṣiktaḥ*—was enthroned; *pṛthuḥ*—King Pṛthu; *aṅga*—my dear Vidura; *vipraiḥ*—by the *brāhmaṇas*; *āmantritaḥ*—was declared; *janatāyāḥ*—of the people; *ca*—also; *pālaḥ*—the protector; *prajāḥ*—the citizens; *niranne*—being without food grains; *kṣiti-pṛṣṭhe*—the surface of the globe; *etya*—coming near; *kṣut*—by hunger; *kṣāma*—skinny; *dehāḥ*—their bodies; *patim*—to the protector; *abhyavocan*—they said. ## Translation **The great sage Maitreya continued: My dear Vidura, at the time King Pṛthu was enthroned by the great sages and brāhmaṇas and declared to be the protector of the citizens, there was a scarcity of food grains. The citizens actually became skinny due to starvation. Therefore they came before the King and informed him of their real situation.** ## Purport Information is given herein concerning the selection of the king by the *brāhmaṇas.* According to the *varṇāśrama* system, the *brāhmaṇas* are considered to be the heads of the society and therefore to be situated in the topmost social position. The *varṇāśrama-dharma,* the institution of four *varṇas* and four *āśramas,* is very scientifically designed. As stated in *Bhagavad-gītā, varṇāśrama-dharma* is not a man-made institution, but is God-made. In this narration it is clearly indicated that the *brāhmaṇas* used to control the royal power. When an evil king like Vena ruled, the *brāhmaṇas* would kill him through their brahminical powers and would select a proper ruler by testing his qualifications. In other words, the *brāhmaṇas,* the intelligent men or great sages, would control the monarchical powers. Here we have an indication of how the *brāhmaṇas* elected King Pṛthu to the throne as the protector of the citizens. The citizens, being skinny due to hunger, approached the King and informed him that necessary action should be taken. The structure of the *varṇāśrama-dharma;* was so nice that the *brāhmaṇas* would guide the head of state. The head of state would then give protection to the citizens. The *kṣatriyas* would take charge of protecting the people in general, and under the protection of the *kṣatriyas,* the *vaiśyas* would protect the cows, produce food grains and distribute them. *Śūdras,* the working class, would help the higher three classes by manual labor. This is the perfect social system.