Bhagavatham Stories

Having established himself as the righteous ruler of the earth and having created a government dedicated to dharma and the welfare of his subjects, King Prithu understood that he had a sacred duty to protect his kingdom from hostile forces and to ensure that righteousness prevailed throughout all the lands under his dominion. The earth, even in this ancient period, was inhabited not only by righteous people but also by various demonic forces, hostile kingdoms, and wild regions that had not yet been brought under proper governance. Prithu recognized that expanding the boundaries of his righteous kingdom and bringing more territories under dharmic rule was an essential part of his duty as a universal monarch and a servant of the Supreme Lord.

With careful planning and strategic wisdom, Prithu organized military expeditions to expand his kingdom's territory and to subdue hostile forces that threatened cosmic order. However, unlike ordinary conquerors who are motivated by greed for territory and wealth, Prithu's military campaigns were guided by the principle of establishing dharma and protecting righteousness. He would first attempt to negotiate peacefully with neighboring kingdoms, inviting their rulers to accept his sovereignty and to govern their lands according to Vedic principles. Those rulers who agreed to this arrangement were received with respect and were allowed to continue governing their territories as subordinate kings. Those who refused to cooperate or who persisted in adharmic practices were defeated militarily, but even after defeat, they were treated with dignity and were given opportunities to reform their conduct and accept the principles of righteous governance.

Prithu's military victories were swift and decisive because his armies were motivated by righteousness and the desire to serve the Supreme Lord rather than by greed or desire for personal glory. The soldiers understood that they were fighting to establish dharma, and this spiritual consciousness gave them courage and determination far exceeding that of armies motivated by mercenary concerns or material rewards. Moreover, Prithu's generals and commanders were all wise and ethically principled individuals who conducted warfare according to the sacred codes prescribed in the Vedas. They treated defeated enemies with honor, protected the innocent civilian population, and refrained from acts of wanton destruction or cruelty that would needlessly increase suffering.

As Prithu's military campaigns progressed, his kingdom rapidly expanded to encompass a vast territory including many kingdoms and diverse populations. However, expansion of territory was not Prithu's ultimate objective—his goal was always to establish conditions in which all beings could live righteously and practice devotional service to the Supreme Lord. In each newly conquered territory, Prithu would establish temples, appoint spiritual teachers, organize the study of the Vedas, and encourage all people regardless of their social position to engage in spiritual practice. He demonstrated that material strength could be used as a tool to establish spiritual culture and protect dharma rather than merely for personal aggrandizement or territorial conquest.

Prithu's expansion of the kingdom was also supported by his development of trade routes, cultural exchange, and diplomatic relationships with neighboring kingdoms and distant lands. He understood that creating connections between different peoples and fostering mutual respect and cooperation could achieve many objectives without violence. He encouraged merchants to travel to distant lands, spreading knowledge about his righteous kingdom and facilitating the exchange of goods, knowledge, and cultural practices. Through these multifaceted approaches—military when necessary, diplomatic when possible, and always guided by spiritual principles—Prithu created a vast universal empire that was characterized not by the oppression of subject peoples but by a shared commitment to dharma and spiritual advancement.

This chapter describes the important principle that material power, when wielded by someone who is spiritually conscious and devoted to the Supreme Lord, can become an instrument for establishing righteousness and protecting cosmic order. Prithu's military victories and the expansion of his kingdom were not mere exercises in the acquisition of power but were sacred actions aimed at creating conditions in which all beings could live according to dharma and pursue spiritual realization. His example demonstrates that one does not need to withdraw from the world or abandon worldly responsibilities in order to maintain spiritual consciousness and serve the Supreme Lord—rather, all activities, including military conquest and governance, can be transformed into spiritual practice when performed with the proper consciousness and motivation.