Kshatriyas Are Meant to Protect Other Classes of Men

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 22

Kṣatriyas are specifically meant to maintain the brāhmaṇas because if the brāhmaṇas are protected, then the Dharmic principles such as compassion, austerity, cleanliness and truthfulness are protected, educated and enacted. Brāhmaṇas are supposed to be the head of the social body; if the head is clear and has not gone mad, then everything is in proper position. As the heart is a very important part within the body, so the brāhmaṇas are also the important element in human society. The kṣatriyas are more like the whole body; even though the whole body is bigger than the heart, the heart is more important. It is the duty of Kshatriyas to protect Vaisyas who are meant to take care of the cows. It is also the duty of Kshatriyas to provide employment opportunities to the Sudras who support the society as a whole.

The entire social structure of varṇa and āśrama is a cooperative system meant to uplift all to the highest platform of spiritual realization.

Somehow or other, if one meets a saintly person and achieves his favor, then the entire mission of one’s human life is fulfilled. It is therefore enjoined in Vedic literature that one should always try to associate with saintly persons and try to disassociate oneself from the common man, because by one word of a saintly person one can be liberated from material entanglement. A saintly person has the power, because of his spiritual advancement, to give immediate liberation to the conditioned soul. Syavambhuva Manu felt liberated as soon as he met a self realized person like Kardama Muni.

The grown-up daughter of Svāyambhuva Manu, Devahūti, had good character and was well qualified; therefore she was searching for a suitable husband just befitting her age, qualities and character. Manu therefore offered her to Kardama as just suitable for his purpose. It is clear that although the daughter was mature in age and qualities, she did not go out and find her husband independently. She expressed her desire for a suitable husband corresponding to her character, age and quality, and the father himself, out of affection for his daughter, took charge of finding such a husband.

Kardama Muni praised the beauty and qualification of Devahūti in different ways. Devahūti was actually the ornament of all ornamented beautiful girls. A girl becomes beautiful by putting ornaments on her body, but Devahūti was more beautiful than the ornaments; she was considered the ornament of the ornamented beautiful girls. Demigods and Gandharvas were attracted by her beauty. It is important for husbands to appreciate the beauty and qualities of their wives on a regular basis.

Kardama Muni was married to Devahuti with full opulence and was endowed with the necessary paraphernalia for household life which has now-a-days considered as dowry. In the Vedic way of marriage such an endowment was given to the bridegroom by the father of the bride. Such endowment is a gift given to the daughter by the father to show good will, and it is recommended. In rare cases where the father is completely unable to give such endowment, it is enjoined that he must at least give a fruit and a flower. The endowments are given according to the position of the father of the bride. Ornaments, clothing, and various household articles are usually given as endowments.