Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.16.16

dṛḍha-vrataḥ satya-sandho

brahmaṇyo vṛddha-sevakaḥ

śaraṇyaḥ sarva-bhūtānāḿ

mānado dīna-vatsalaḥ

SYNONYMS

dṛḍha-vrataḥ — firmly determined; satya-sandhaḥ — always situated in truth; brahmaṇyaḥ — a lover of the brahminical culture; vṛddha-sevakaḥ — a servitor of the old men; śaraṇyaḥ — to be taken shelter of; sarva-bhūtānām — of all living entities; māna-daḥ — one who gives respect to all; dīna-vatsalaḥ — very kind to the poor and helpless.

TRANSLATION

The King will be firmly determined and always situated in truth. He will be a lover of the brahminical culture and will render all service to old men and give shelter to all surrendered souls. Giving respect to all, he will always be merciful to the poor and innocent.

PURPORT

The word vṛddha-sevakaḥ is very significant. Vṛddha means "old men." There are two kinds of old men: one is old by age, and another is old by knowledge. This Sanskrit word indicates that one can be older by the advancement of knowledge. King Pṛthu was very respectful to the brāhmaṇas, and he protected them. He also protected persons advanced in age. Whatever the King would decide to do, no one would be able to stop. That is called dṛḍha-sańkalpa, or dṛḍha-vrata.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness