Formerly, the kings were as good as great sages. They were trained up in such a way. They were guided by high-class brāhmaṇas and sages. And if the king would prove useless, they will dethrone him. That was the monarchical system. Therefore they were called rājarṣi. And people are very happy.
The rājarṣi, the king, should see that exactly the varṇāśrama-dharma is being executed by the subjects, and the citizens are protected from the hands of dishonest ministers and thieves and rogues. That is good government. Not only that; the purpose of human life was being executed under the guidance of the government: to elevate everyone to the platform of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu.
- viṣṇur ārādhyate puṁsāṁ
- nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam
- (CC Madhya 8.58)
So this is Vedic culture. This is Vedic culture means that the aim of human civilization should be to understand the original proprietor of everything. We read in the Īśopaniṣad, īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ (ISO 1). Everything is owned by the Supreme Personality of God, īśa. Kṛṣṇa, the supreme īśa, He also says that sarva-loka-maheśvaram:
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
- sarva-loka-maheśvaram
- suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
- jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati
- (BG 5.29)
There is no śānti, peace, in the world. Everyone... That is, of course, the nature of this material world: everyone is full of anxiety. But especially because they do not know who is the original proprietor of this cosmic manifestation, on account of this they are in ignorance, and they are unhappy.
The Kṛṣṇa says jñātvā māṁ: "When one understands Me, that I am the proprietor of all planetary systems,"
- sarva-loka-maheśvaram
- suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
- (BG 5.29)
"I am the real friend of everyone." When understand these facts...,when one understands these facts, śāntim ṛcchati: he can be happy. Otherwise it is not possible.
So therefore human civilization means to understand the supreme proprietor of everything and offer his obeisances unto Him. Just like we offer our respects and obeisances to the state ruler, or the state president—nowadays it is president. Suppose we are sitting here. If the president comes here, immediately we must show respect by standing up and giving a good reception. That is our duty. So if you are obliged to offer respect and obeisances to the state head, how much are you obliged to the supreme proprietor, the supreme president?
But that we have forgotten. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ (SB 7.5.31). They have forgotten. Durāśayā. Their ambition has been that "We shall become happy by speculating, by making adjustment of this opposing element." Therefore it is called durāśayā. It will never be fulfilled. It will never occur if you go on in this way. You have to understand the supreme proprietor, the supreme originator of everything.