Śrīmad Bhāgavatam |Canto 4 Chapter 14

The Story of King Vena

VERSE 4.14.1

maitreya uvāca

bhṛgv-ādayas te munayo
lokānāṁ kṣema-darśinaḥ
goptary asati vai nṝṇāṁ
paśyantaḥ paśu-sāmyatām

SYNONYMS

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya continued; bhṛgu-ādayaḥ — headed by Bhṛgu; te — all of them; munayaḥ — the great sages; lokānām — of the people; kṣema-darśinaḥ — who always aspire for the welfare; goptari — the King; asati — being absent; vai — certainly; nṝṇām — of all the citizens; paśyantaḥ — having understood; paśu-sāmyatām — existence on the level of the animals.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya continued: O great hero Vidura, the great sages, headed by Bhṛgu, were always thinking of the welfare of the people in general. When they saw that in the absence of King Aṅga there was no one to protect the interests of the people, they understood that without a ruler the people would become independent and nonregulated.

VERSE 4.14.2

vīra-mātaram āhūya
sunīthāṁ brahma-vādinaḥ
prakṛty-asammataṁ venam
abhyaṣiñcan patiṁ bhuvaḥ

SYNONYMS

vīra — of Vena; mātaram — mother; āhūya — calling; sunīthām — of the name Sunīthā; brahma-vādinaḥ — the great sages learned in the Vedas; prakṛti — by the ministers; asammatam — not approved of; venam — Vena; abhyaṣiñcan — enthroned; patim — the master; bhuvaḥ — of the world.

TRANSLATION

The great sages then called for the Queen Mother, Sunīthā, and with her permission they installed Vena on the throne as master of the world. All the ministers, however, disagreed with this.

VERSE 4.14.3

śrutvā nṛpāsana-gataṁ
venam atyugra-śāsanam
nililyur dasyavaḥ sadyaḥ
sarpa-trastā ivākhavaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrutvā — after hearing; nṛpa — of the King; āsana-gatam — ascended to the throne; venam — Vena; ati — very; ugra — severe; śāsanam — punisher; nililyuḥ — hid themselves; dasyavaḥ — all the thieves; sadyaḥ — immediately; sarpa — from snakes; trastāḥ — being afraid; iva — like; ākhavaḥ — rats.

TRANSLATION

It was already known that Vena was very severe and cruel; therefore, as soon as all the thieves and rogues in the state heard of his ascendance to the royal throne, they became very much afraid of him. Indeed, they hid themselves here and there as rats hide themselves from snakes.

VERSE 4.14.4

sa ārūḍha-nṛpa-sthāna
unnaddho ’ṣṭa-vibhūtibhiḥ
avamene mahā-bhāgān
stabdhaḥ sambhāvitaḥ svataḥ

SYNONYMS

saḥ — King Vena; ārūḍha — ascended to; nṛpa-sthānaḥ — the seat of the king; unnaddhaḥ — very proud; aṣṭa — eight; vibhūtibhiḥ — by opulences; avamene — began to insult; mahā-bhāgān — great personalities; stabdhaḥ — inconsiderate; sambhāvitaḥ — considered great; svataḥ — by himself.

TRANSLATION

When the King ascended to the throne, he became all-powerful with eight kinds of opulences. Consequently he became too proud. By virtue of his false prestige, he considered himself to be greater than anyone. Thus he began to insult great personalities.

VERSE 4.14.5

evaṁ madāndha utsikto
niraṅkuśa iva dvipaḥ
paryaṭan ratham āsthāya
kampayann iva rodasī

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; mada-andhaḥ — being blind with power; utsiktaḥ — proud; niraṅkuśaḥ — uncontrolled; iva — like; dvipaḥ — an elephant; paryaṭan — traveling; ratham — a chariot; āsthāya — having mounted; kampayan — causing to tremble; iva — indeed; rodasī — the sky and earth.

TRANSLATION

When he became overly blind due to his opulences, King Vena mounted a chariot and, like an uncontrolled elephant, began to travel through the kingdom, causing the sky and earth to tremble wherever he went.

VERSE 4.14.6

na yaṣṭavyaṁ na dātavyaṁ
na hotavyaṁ dvijāḥ kvacit
iti nyavārayad dharmaṁ
bherī-ghoṣeṇa sarvaśaḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; yaṣṭavyam — any sacrifices can be performed; na — not; dātavyam — any charity can be given; na — not; hotavyam — any clarified butter can be offered; dvijāḥ — O twice-born; kvacit — at any time; iti — thus; nyavārayat — he stopped; dharmam — the procedures of religious principles; bherī — of kettledrums; ghoṣeṇa — with the sound; sarvaśaḥ — everywhere.

TRANSLATION

All the twice-born [brāhmaṇas] were forbidden henceforward to perform any sacrifice, and they were also forbidden to give charity or offer clarified butter. Thus King Vena sounded kettledrums throughout the countryside. In other words, he stopped all kinds of religious rituals.

VERSE 4.14.7

venasyāvekṣya munayo
durvṛttasya viceṣṭitam
vimṛśya loka-vyasanaṁ
kṛpayocuḥ sma satriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

venasya — of King Vena; āvekṣya — after observing; munayaḥ — all the great sages; durvṛttasya — of the great rogue; viceṣṭitam — activities; vimṛśya — considering; loka-vyasanam — danger to the people in general; kṛpayā — out of compassion; ūcuḥ — talked; sma — in the past; satriṇaḥ — the performers of sacrifices.

TRANSLATION

Therefore all the great sages assembled together and, after observing cruel Vena’s atrocities, concluded that a great danger and catastrophe was approaching the people of the world. Thus out of compassion they began to talk amongst themselves, for they themselves were the performers of the sacrifices.

VERSE 4.14.8

aho ubhayataḥ prāptaṁ
lokasya vyasanaṁ mahat
dāruṇy ubhayato dīpte
iva taskara-pālayoḥ

SYNONYMS

aho — alas; ubhayataḥ — from both directions; prāptam — received; lokasya — of the people in general; vyasanam — danger; mahat — great; dāruṇi — a log; ubhayataḥ — from both sides; dīpte — burning; iva — like; taskara — from thieves and rogues; pālayoḥ — and from the king.

TRANSLATION

When the great sages consulted one another, they saw that the people were in a dangerous position from both directions. When a fire blazes on both ends of a log, the ants in the middle are in a very dangerous situation. Similarly, at that time the people in general were in a dangerous position due to an irresponsible king on one side and thieves and rogues on the other.

VERSE 4.14.9

arājaka-bhayād eṣa
kṛto rājātad-arhaṇaḥ
tato ’py āsīd bhayaṁ tv adya
kathaṁ syāt svasti dehinām

SYNONYMS

arājaka — being without a king; bhayāt — out of fear; eṣaḥ — this Vena; kṛtaḥ — was made; rājā — the king; a-tat-arhaṇaḥ — though not qualified for it; tataḥ — from him; api — also; āsīt — there was; bhayam — danger; tu — then; adya — now; katham — how; syāt — can there be; svasti — happiness; dehinām — of the people in general.

TRANSLATION

Thinking to save the state from irregularity, the sages began to consider that it was due to a political crisis that they made Vena king although he was not qualified. But alas, now the people were being disturbed by the king himself. Under such circumstances, how could the people be happy?

VERSE 4.14.10

aher iva payaḥ-poṣaḥ
poṣakasyāpy anartha-bhṛt
venaḥ prakṛtyaiva khalaḥ
sunīthā-garbha-sambhavaḥ

SYNONYMS

aheḥ — of a snake; iva — like; payaḥ — with milk; poṣaḥ — the maintaining; poṣakasya — of the maintainer; api — even; anartha — against the interest; bhṛt — becomes; venaḥ — King Vena; prakṛtyā — by nature; eva — certainly; khalaḥ — mischievous; sunīthā — of Sunīthā, Vena’s mother; garbha — the womb; sambhavaḥ — born of.

TRANSLATION

The sages began to think within themselves: Because he was born from the womb of Sunīthā, King Vena is by nature very mischievous. Supporting this mischievous king is exactly like maintaining a snake with milk. Now he has become a source of all difficulties.

VERSE 4.14.11

nirūpitaḥ prajā-pālaḥ
sa jighāṁsati vai prajāḥ
tathāpi sāntvayemāmuṁ
nāsmāṁs tat-pātakaṁ spṛśet

SYNONYMS

nirūpitaḥ — appointed; prajā-pālaḥ — the king; saḥ — he; jighāṁsati — desires to harm; vai — certainly; prajāḥ — the citizens; tathā api — nevertheless; sāntvayema — we should pacify; amum — him; na — not; asmān — us; tat — his; pātakam — sinful result; spṛśet — may touch.

TRANSLATION

We appointed this Vena king of the state in order to give protection to the citizens, but now he has become the enemy of the citizens. Despite all these discrepancies, we should at once try to pacify him. By doing so, we may not be touched by the sinful results caused by him.

VERSE 4.14.12

tad-vidvadbhir asad-vṛtto
veno ’smābhiḥ kṛto nṛpaḥ
sāntvito yadi no vācaṁ
na grahīṣyaty adharma-kṛt
loka-dhikkāra-sandagdhaṁ
dahiṣyāmaḥ sva-tejasā

SYNONYMS

tat — his mischievous nature; vidvadbhiḥ — aware of; asat-vṛttaḥ — impious; venaḥ — Vena; asmābhiḥ — by us; kṛtaḥ — was made; nṛpaḥ — king; sāntvitaḥ — (in spite of) being pacified; yadi — if; naḥ — our; vācam — words; na — not; grahīṣyati — he will accept; adharma-kṛt — the most mischievous; loka-dhik-kāra — by public condemnation; sandagdham — burned; dahiṣyāmaḥ — we shall burn; sva-tejasā — by our prowess.

TRANSLATION

The saintly sages continued thinking: Of course, we were completely aware of his mischievous nature, yet we nevertheless enthroned Vena. If we cannot persuade King Vena to accept our advice, he will be condemned by the public, and we will join them. Thus by our prowess we shall burn him to ashes.

VERSE 4.14.13

evam adhyavasāyainaṁ
munayo gūḍha-manyavaḥ
upavrajyābruvan venaṁ
sāntvayitvā ca sāmabhiḥ

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; adhyavasāya — having decided; enam — him; munayaḥ — the great sages; gūḍha-manyavaḥ — concealing their anger; upavrajya — having approached; abruvan — spoke; venam — to King Vena; sāntvayitvā — after pacifying; ca — also; sāmabhiḥ — with sweet words.

TRANSLATION

The great sages, having thus decided, approached King Vena. Concealing their real anger, they pacified him with sweet words and then spoke as follows.

VERSE 4.14.14

munaya ūcuḥ

nṛpa-varya nibodhaitad
yat te vijñāpayāma bhoḥ
āyuḥ-śrī-bala-kīrtīnāṁ
tava tāta vivardhanam

SYNONYMS

munayaḥ ūcuḥ — the great sages said; nṛpa-varya — O best of the kings; nibodha — kindly try to understand; etat — this; yat — which; te — to you; vijñāpayāma — we shall instruct; bhoḥ — O King; āyuḥ — duration of life; śrī — opulences; bala — strength; kīrtīnām — good reputation; tava — your; tāta — dear son; vivardhanam — which will increase.

TRANSLATION

The great sages said: Dear King, we have come to give you good advice. Kindly hear us with great attention. By doing so, your duration of life and your opulence, strength and reputation will increase.

VERSE 4.14.15

dharma ācaritaḥ puṁsāṁ
vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-buddhibhiḥ
lokān viśokān vitaraty
athānantyam asaṅginām

SYNONYMS

dharmaḥ — religious principles; ācaritaḥ — executed; puṁsām — to persons; vāk — by words; manaḥ — mind; kāya — body; buddhibhiḥ — and by intelligence; lokān — the planets; viśokān — without misery; vitarati — bestow; atha — certainly; ānantyam — unlimited happiness, liberation; asaṅginām — to those free from material influence.

TRANSLATION

Those who live according to religious principles and who follow them by words, mind, body and intelligence are elevated to the heavenly kingdom, which is devoid of all miseries. Being thus rid of the material influence, they achieve unlimited happiness in life.

VERSE 4.14.16

sa te mā vinaśed vīra
prajānāṁ kṣema-lakṣaṇaḥ
yasmin vinaṣṭe nṛpatir
aiśvaryād avarohati

SYNONYMS

saḥ — that spiritual life; te — by you; — do not; vinaśet — let it be spoiled; vīra — O hero; prajānām — of the people; kṣema-lakṣaṇaḥ — the cause of prosperity; yasmin — which; vinaṣṭe — being spoiled; nṛpatiḥ — the king; aiśvaryāt — from opulence; avarohati — falls down.

TRANSLATION

The sages continued: O great hero, for this reason you should not be the cause of spoiling the spiritual life of the general populace. If their spiritual life is spoiled because of your activities, you will certainly fall down from your opulent and royal position.

VERSE 4.14.17

rājann asādhv-amātyebhyaś
corādibhyaḥ prajā nṛpaḥ
rakṣan yathā baliṁ gṛhṇann
iha pretya ca modate

SYNONYMS

rājan — O King; asādhu — mischievous; amātyebhyaḥ — from ministers; cora-ādibhyaḥ — from thieves and rogues; prajāḥ — the citizens; nṛpaḥ — the king; rakṣan — protecting; yathā — accordingly as; balim — taxes; gṛhṇan — accepting; iha — in this world; pretya — after death; ca — also; modate — enjoys.

TRANSLATION

The saintly persons continued: When the king protects the citizens from the disturbances of mischievous ministers as well as from thieves and rogues, he can, by virtue of such pious activities, accept taxes given by his subjects. Thus a pious king can certainly enjoy himself in this world as well as in the life after death.

VERSE 4.14.18

yasya rāṣṭre pure caiva
bhagavān yajña-pūruṣaḥ
ijyate svena dharmeṇa
janair varṇāśramānvitaiḥ

SYNONYMS

yasya — whose; rāṣṭre — in the state or kingdom; pure — in the cities; ca — also; eva — certainly; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; yajña-pūruṣaḥ — who is the enjoyer of all sacrifices; ijyate — is worshiped; svena — their own; dharmeṇa — by occupation; janaiḥ — by the people; varṇa-āśrama — the system of eight social orders; anvitaiḥ — who follow.

TRANSLATION

The king is supposed to be pious in whose state and cities the general populace strictly observes the system of eight social orders of varṇa and āśrama, and where all citizens engage in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead by their particular occupations.

VERSE 4.14.19

tasya rājño mahā-bhāga
bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ
parituṣyati viśvātmā
tiṣṭhato nija-śāsane

SYNONYMS

tasya — with him; rājñaḥ — the king; mahā-bhāga — O noble one; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhūta-bhāvanaḥ — who is the original cause of the cosmic manifestation; parituṣyati — becomes satisfied; viśva-ātmā — the Supersoul of the entire universe; tiṣṭhataḥ — being situated; nija-śāsane — in his own governing situation.

TRANSLATION

O noble one, if the king sees that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original cause of the cosmic manifestation and the Supersoul within everyone, is worshiped, the Lord will be satisfied.

VERSE 4.14.20

tasmiṁs tuṣṭe kim aprāpyaṁ
jagatām īśvareśvare
lokāḥ sapālā hy etasmai
haranti balim ādṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

tasmin — when He; tuṣṭe — is satisfied; kim — what; aprāpyam — impossible to achieve; jagatām — of the universe; īśvara-īśvare — the controller of the controllers; lokāḥ — the inhabitants of the planets; sapālāḥ — with their presiding deities; hi — for this reason; etasmai — unto Him; haranti — offer; balim — paraphernalia for worship; ādṛtāḥ — with great pleasure.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped by the great demigods who are controllers of universal affairs. When He is satisfied, nothing is impossible to achieve. For this reason all the demigods, presiding deities of different planets, as well as the inhabitants of their planets, take great pleasure in offering all kinds of paraphernalia for His worship.

VERSE 4.14.21

taṁ sarva-lokāmara-yajña-saṅgrahaṁ
trayīmayaṁ dravyamayaṁ tapomayam
yajñair vicitrair yajato bhavāya te
rājan sva-deśān anuroddhum arhasi

SYNONYMS

tam — Him; sarva-loka — in all planets; amara — with the predominating deities; yajña — sacrifices; saṅgraham — who accepts; trayī-mayam — the sum total of the three Vedas; dravya-mayam — the owner of all paraphernalia; tapaḥ-mayam — the goal of all austerity; yajñaiḥ — by sacrifices; vicitraiḥ — various; yajataḥ — worshiping; bhavāya — for elevation; te — your; rājan — O King; sva-deśān — your countrymen; anuroddhum — to direct; arhasi — you ought.

TRANSLATION

Dear King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with the predominating deities, is the enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices in all planets. The Supreme Lord is the sum total of the three Vedas, the owner of everything, and the ultimate goal of all austerity. Therefore your countrymen should engage in performing various sacrifices for your elevation. Indeed, you should always direct them towards the offering of sacrifices.

VERSE 4.14.22

yajñena yuṣmad-viṣaye dvijātibhir
vitāyamānena surāḥ kalā hareḥ
sviṣṭāḥ sutuṣṭāḥ pradiśanti vāñchitaṁ
tad-dhelanaṁ nārhasi vīra ceṣṭitum

SYNONYMS

yajñena — by sacrifice; yuṣmat — your; viṣaye — in the kingdom; dvijātibhiḥ — by the brāhmaṇas; vitāyamānena — being performed; surāḥ — all the demigods; kalāḥ — expansions; hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; su-iṣṭāḥ — being properly worshiped; su-tuṣṭāḥ — very much satisfied; pradiśanti — will give; vāñchitam — desired result; tat-helanam — disrespect to them; na — not; arhasi — you ought; vīra — O hero; ceṣṭitum — to do.

TRANSLATION

When all the brāhmaṇas engage in performing sacrifices in your kingdom, all the demigods, who are plenary expansions of the Lord, will be very much satisfied by their activities and will give you your desired result. Therefore, O hero, do not stop the sacrificial performances. If you stop them, you will disrespect the demigods.

VERSE 4.14.23

vena uvāca

bāliśā bata yūyaṁ vā
adharme dharma-māninaḥ
ye vṛttidaṁ patiṁ hitvā
jāraṁ patim upāsate

SYNONYMS

venaḥ — King Vena; uvāca — replied; bāliśāḥ — childish; bata — oh; yūyam — all of you; — indeed; adharme — in irreligious principles; dharma-māninaḥ — accepting as religious; ye — all of you who; vṛttidam — providing maintenance; patim — husband; hitvā — giving up; jāram — paramour; patim — husband; upāsate — worship.

TRANSLATION

King Vena replied: You are not at all experienced. It is very much regrettable that you are maintaining something which is not religious and are accepting it as religious. Indeed, I think you are giving up your real husband, who maintains you, and are searching after some paramour to worship.

VERSE 4.14.24

avajānanty amī mūḍhā
nṛpa-rūpiṇam īśvaram
nānuvindanti te bhadram
iha loke paratra ca

SYNONYMS

avajānanti — disrespect; amī — those (who); mūḍhāḥ — being ignorant; nṛpa-rūpiṇam — in the form of the king; īśvaram — the Personality of Godhead; na — not; anuvindanti — experience; te — they; bhadram — happiness; iha — in this; loke — world; paratra — after death; ca — also.

TRANSLATION

Those who, out of gross ignorance, do not worship the king, who is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, experience happiness neither in this world nor in the world after death.

VERSE 4.14.25

ko yajña-puruṣo nāma
yatra vo bhaktir īdṛśī
bhartṛ-sneha-vidūrāṇāṁ
yathā jāre kuyoṣitām

SYNONYMS

kaḥ — who (is); yajña-puruṣaḥ — the enjoyer of all sacrifices; nāma — by name; yatra — unto whom; vaḥ — your; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; īdṛśī — so great; bhartṛ — for the husband; sneha — affection; vidūrāṇām — bereft of; yathā — like; jāre — unto the paramour; ku-yoṣitām — of unchaste women.

TRANSLATION

You are so much devoted to the demigods, but who are they? Indeed, your affection for these demigods is exactly like the affection of an unchaste woman who neglects her married life and gives all attention to her paramour.

VERSE 4.14.26-27

viṣṇur viriñco giriśa
indro vāyur yamo raviḥ
parjanyo dhanadaḥ somaḥ
kṣitir agnir apāmpatiḥ

ete cānye ca vibudhāḥ
prabhavo vara-śāpayoḥ
dehe bhavanti nṛpateḥ
sarva-devamayo nṛpaḥ

SYNONYMS

viṣṇuḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; viriñcaḥ — Lord Brahmā; giriśaḥ — Lord Śiva; indraḥ — Lord Indra; vāyuḥ — Vāyu, the director of the air; yamaḥ — Yama, the superintendent of death; raviḥ — the sun-god; parjanyaḥ — the director of rainfall; dhana-daḥ — Kuvera, the treasurer; somaḥ — the moon-god; kṣitiḥ — the predominating deity of the earth; agniḥ — the fire-god; apām-patiḥ — Varuṇa, the lord of waters; ete — all these; ca — and; anye — others; ca — also; vibudhāḥ — demigods; prabhavaḥ — competent; vara-śāpayoḥ — in both benediction and curse; dehe — in the body; bhavanti — abide; nṛpateḥ — of the king; sarva-devamayaḥ — comprising all demigods; nṛpaḥ — the king.

TRANSLATION

Lord Viṣṇu; Lord Brahmā; Lord Śiva; Lord Indra; Vāyu, the master of air; Yama, the superintendent of death; the sun-god; the director of rainfall; Kuvera, the treasurer; the moon-god; the predominating deity of the earth; Agni, the fire-god; Varuṇa, the lord of waters; and all others who are great and competent to bestow benedictions or to curse — all abide in the body of the king. For this reason the king is known as the reservoir of all demigods, who are simply parts and parcels of the king’s body.

VERSE 4.14.28

tasmān māṁ karmabhir viprā
yajadhvaṁ gata-matsarāḥ
baliṁ ca mahyaṁ harata
matto ’nyaḥ ko ’gra-bhuk pumān

SYNONYMS

tasmāt — for this reason; mām — me; karmabhiḥ — by ritualistic activities; viprāḥ — O brāhmaṇas; yajadhvam — worship; gata — without; matsarāḥ — being envious; balim — paraphernalia for worship; ca — also; mahyam — unto me; harata — bring; mattaḥ — than me; anyaḥ — other; kaḥ — who (is); agra-bhuk — the enjoyer of the first oblations; pumān — personality.

TRANSLATION

King Vena continued: For this reason, O brāhmaṇas, you should abandon your envy of me, and by your ritualistic activities you should worship me and offer me all paraphernalia. If you are intelligent, you should know that there is no personality superior to me who can accept the first oblations of all sacrifices.

VERSE 4.14.29

maitreya uvāca

itthaṁ viparyaya-matiḥ
pāpīyān utpathaṁ gataḥ
anunīyamānas tad-yācñāṁ
na cakre bhraṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ

SYNONYMS

maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said; ittham — thus; viparyaya-matiḥ — one who has developed perverse intelligence; pāpīyān — most sinful; utpatham — from the right path; gataḥ — having gone; anunīyamānaḥ — being offered all respect; tat-yācñām — the request of the sages; na — not; cakre — accepted; bhraṣṭa — bereft of; maṅgalaḥ — all good fortune.

TRANSLATION

The great sage Maitreya continued: Thus the King, who became unintelligent due to his sinful life and deviation from the right path, became actually bereft of all good fortune. He could not accept the requests of the great sages, which the sages put before him with great respect, and therefore he was condemned.

VERSE 4.14.30

iti te ’sat-kṛtās tena
dvijāḥ paṇḍita-māninā
bhagnāyāṁ bhavya-yācñāyāṁ
tasmai vidura cukrudhuḥ

SYNONYMS

iti — thus; te — all the great sages; asat-kṛtāḥ — being insulted; tena — by the King; dvijāḥ — the brāhmaṇas; paṇḍita-māninā — thinking himself to be very learned; bhagnāyām — being broken; bhavya — auspicious; yācñāyām — their request; tasmai — at him; vidura — O Vidura; cukrudhuḥ — became very angry.

TRANSLATION

My dear Vidura, all good fortune unto you. The foolish King, who thought himself very learned, thus insulted the great sages, and the sages, being brokenhearted by the King’s words, became very angry at him.

VERSE 4.14.31

hanyatāṁ hanyatām eṣa
pāpaḥ prakṛti-dāruṇaḥ
jīvañ jagad asāv āśu
kurute bhasmasād dhruvam

SYNONYMS

hanyatām — kill him; hanyatām — kill him; eṣaḥ — this king; pāpaḥ — representative of sin; prakṛti — by nature; dāruṇaḥ — most dreadful; jīvan — while living; jagat — the whole world; asau — he; āśu — very soon; kurute — will make; bhasmasāt — into ashes; dhruvam — certainly.

TRANSLATION

All the great saintly sages immediately cried: Kill him! Kill him! He is the most dreadful, sinful person. If he lives, he will certainly turn the whole world into ashes in no time.

VERSE 4.14.32

nāyam arhaty asad-vṛtto
naradeva-varāsanam
yo ’dhiyajña-patiṁ viṣṇuṁ
vinindaty anapatrapaḥ

SYNONYMS

na — never; ayam — this man; arhati — deserves; asat-vṛttaḥ — full of impious activities; nara-deva — of the worldly king or worldly god; vara-āsanam — the exalted throne; yaḥ — he who; adhiyajña-patim — the master of all sacrifices; viṣṇum — Lord Viṣṇu; vinindati — insults; anapatrapaḥ — shameless.

TRANSLATION

The saintly sages continued: This impious, impudent man does not deserve to sit on the throne at all. He is so shameless that he even dared insult the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu.

VERSE 4.14.33

ko vainaṁ paricakṣīta
venam ekam ṛte ’śubham
prāpta īdṛśam aiśvaryaṁ
yad-anugraha-bhājanaḥ

SYNONYMS

kaḥ — who; — indeed; enam — the Lord; paricakṣīta — would blaspheme; venam — King Vena; ekam — alone; ṛte — but for; aśubham — inauspicious; prāptaḥ — having obtained; īdṛśam — like this; aiśvaryam — opulence; yat — whose; anugraha — mercy; bhājanaḥ — receiving.

TRANSLATION

But for King Vena, who is simply inauspicious, who would blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose mercy one is awarded all kinds of fortune and opulence?

VERSE 4.14.34

itthaṁ vyavasitā hantum
ṛṣayo rūḍha-manyavaḥ
nijaghnur huṅkṛtair venaṁ
hatam acyuta-nindayā

SYNONYMS

ittham — thus; vyavasitāḥ — decided; hantum — to kill; ṛṣayaḥ — the sages; rūḍha — manifested; manyavaḥ — their anger; nijaghnuḥ — they killed; hum-kṛtaiḥ — by angry words or by sounds of hum; venam — King Vena; hatam — dead; acyuta — against the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nindayā — by blasphemy.

TRANSLATION

The great sages, thus manifesting their covert anger, immediately decided to kill the King. King Vena was already as good as dead due to his blasphemy against the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus without using any weapons, the sages killed King Vena simply by high-sounding words.

VERSE 4.14.35

ṛṣibhiḥ svāśrama-padaṁ
gate putra-kalevaram
sunīthā pālayām āsa
vidyā-yogena śocatī

SYNONYMS

ṛṣibhiḥ — by the sages; sva-āśrama-padam — to their own respective hermitages; gate — having returned; putra — of her son; kalevaram — the body; sunīthā — Sunīthā, the mother of King Vena; pālayām āsa — preserved; vidyā-yogena — by mantra and ingredients; śocatī — while lamenting.

TRANSLATION

After all the sages returned to their respective hermitages, the mother of King Vena, Sunīthā, became very much aggrieved because of her son’s death. She decided to preserve the dead body of her son by the application of certain ingredients and by chanting mantras [mantra-yogena].

VERSE 4.14.36

ekadā munayas te tu
sarasvat-salilāplutāḥ
hutvāgnīn sat-kathāś cakrur
upaviṣṭāḥ sarit-taṭe

SYNONYMS

ekadā — once upon a time; munayaḥ — all those great saintly persons; te — they; tu — then; sarasvat — of the river Sarasvatī; salila — in the water; āplutāḥ — bathed; hutvā — offering oblations; agnīn — into the fires; sat-kathāḥ — discussions about transcendental subject matters; cakruḥ — began to do; upaviṣṭāḥ — sitting; sarit-taṭe — by the side of the river.

TRANSLATION

Once upon a time, the same saintly persons, after taking their bath in the river Sarasvatī, began to perform their daily duties by offering oblations into the sacrificial fires. After this, sitting on the bank of the river, they began to talk about the transcendental person and His pastimes.

VERSE 4.14.37

vīkṣyotthitāṁs tadotpātān
āhur loka-bhayaṅkarān
apy abhadram anāthāyā
dasyubhyo na bhaved bhuvaḥ

SYNONYMS

vīkṣya — having seen; utthitān — developed; tadā — then; utpātān — disturbances; āhuḥ — they began to say; loka — in society; bhayam-karān — causing panic; api — whether; abhadram — misfortune; anāthāyāḥ — having no ruler; dasyubhyaḥ — from thieves and rogues; na — not; bhavet — may happen; bhuvaḥ — of the world.

TRANSLATION

In those days there were various disturbances in the country that were creating a panic in society. Therefore all the sages began to talk amongst themselves: Since the King is dead and there is no protector in the world, misfortune may befall the people in general on account of rogues and thieves.

VERSE 4.14.38

evaṁ mṛśanta ṛṣayo
dhāvatāṁ sarvato-diśam
pāṁsuḥ samutthito bhūriś
corāṇām abhilumpatām

SYNONYMS

evam — thus; mṛśantaḥ — while considering; ṛṣayaḥ — the great saintly persons; dhāvatām — running; sarvataḥ-diśam — from all directions; pāṁsuḥ — dust; samutthitaḥ — arose; bhūriḥ — much; corāṇām — from thieves and rogues; abhilumpatām — engaged in plundering.

TRANSLATION

When the great sages were carrying on their discussion in this way, they saw a dust storm arising from all directions. This storm was caused by the running of thieves and rogues, who were engaged in plundering the citizens.

VERSE 4.14.39-40

tad upadravam ājñāya
lokasya vasu lumpatām
bhartary uparate tasminn
anyonyaṁ ca jighāṁ-satām

cora-prāyaṁ jana-padaṁ
hīna-sattvam arājakam
lokān nāvārayañ chaktā
api tad-doṣa-darśinaḥ

SYNONYMS

tat — at that time; upadravam — the disturbance; ājñāya — understanding; lokasya — of the people in general; vasu — riches; lumpatām — by those who were plundering; bhartari — the protector; uparate — being dead; tasmin — King Vena; anyonyam — one another; ca — also; jighāṁ satām — desiring to kill; cora-prāyam — full of thieves; jana-padam — the state; hīna — bereft of; sattvam — regulation; arājakam — without a king; lokān — the thieves and rogues; na — not; avārayan — they subdued; śaktāḥ — able to do so; api — although; tat-doṣa — the fault of that; darśinaḥ — considering.

TRANSLATION

Upon seeing the dust storm, the saintly persons could understand that there were a great deal of irregularities due to the death of King Vena. Without government, the state was devoid of law and order, and consequently there was a great uprising of murderous thieves and rogues, who were plundering the riches of the people in general. Although the great sages could subdue the disturbance by their powers — just as they could kill the King — they considered it improper on their part to do so. Thus they did not attempt to stop the disturbance.

VERSE 4.14.41

brāhmaṇaḥ sama-dṛk śānto
dīnānāṁ samupekṣakaḥ
sravate brahma tasyāpi
bhinna-bhāṇḍāt payo yathā

SYNONYMS

brāhmaṇaḥ — a brāhmaṇa; sama-dṛk — equipoised; śāntaḥ — peaceful; dīnānām — the poor; samupekṣakaḥ — grossly neglecting; sravate — diminishes; brahma — spiritual power; tasya — his; api — certainly; bhinna-bhāṇḍāt — from a cracked pot; payaḥ — water; yathā — just as.

TRANSLATION

The great sages began to think that although a brāhmaṇa is peaceful and impartial because he is equal to everyone, it is still not his duty to neglect poor humans. By such neglect, a brāhmaṇa’s spiritual power diminishes, just as water kept in a cracked pot leaks out.

VERSE 4.14.42

nāṅgasya vaṁśo rājarṣer
eṣa saṁsthātum arhati
amogha-vīryā hi nṛpā
vaṁśe ’smin keśavāśrayāḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; aṅgasya — of King Aṅga; vaṁśaḥ — family line; rāja-ṛṣeḥ — of the saintly King; eṣaḥ — this; saṁsthātum — to be stopped; arhati — ought; amogha — without sin, powerful; vīryāḥ — their semen; hi — because; nṛpāḥ — kings; vaṁśe — in the family; asmin — this; keśava — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; āśrayāḥ — under the shelter.

TRANSLATION

The sages decided that the descendants of the family of the saintly King Aṅga should not be stopped, for in this family the semen was very powerful and the children were prone to become devotees of the Lord.

VERSE 4.14.43

viniścityaivam ṛṣayo
vipannasya mahīpateḥ
mamanthur ūruṁ tarasā
tatrāsīd bāhuko naraḥ

SYNONYMS

viniścitya — deciding; evam — thus; ṛṣayaḥ — the great sages; vipannasya — dead; mahī-pateḥ — of the King; mamanthuḥ — churned; ūrum — the thighs; tarasā — with specific power; tatra — thereupon; āsīt — was born; bāhukaḥ — of the name Bāhuka (dwarf); naraḥ — a person.

TRANSLATION

After making a decision, the saintly persons and sages churned the thighs of the dead body of King Vena with great force and according to a specific method. As a result of this churning, a dwarflike person was born from King Vena’s body.

VERSE 4.14.44

kāka-kṛṣṇo ’tihrasvāṅgo
hrasva-bāhur mahā-hanuḥ
hrasva-pān nimna-nāsāgro
raktākṣas tāmra-mūrdhajaḥ

SYNONYMS

kāka-kṛṣṇaḥ — as black as a crow; ati-hrasva — very short; aṅgaḥ — his limbs; hrasva — short; bāhuḥ — his arms; mahā — big; hanuḥ — his jaws; hrasva — short; pāt — his legs; nimna — flat; nāsa-agraḥ — the tip of his nose; rakta — reddish; akṣaḥ — his eyes; tāmra — copperlike; mūrdha-jaḥ — his hair.

TRANSLATION

This person born from King Vena’s thighs was named Bāhuka, and his complexion was as black as a crow’s. All the limbs of his body were very short, his arms and legs were short, and his jaws were large. His nose was flat, his eyes were reddish, and his hair copper-colored.

VERSE 4.14.45

taṁ tu te ’vanataṁ dīnaṁ
kiṁ karomīti vādinam
niṣīdety abruvaṁs tāta
sa niṣādas tato ’bhavat

SYNONYMS

tam — unto him; tu — then; te — the sages; avanatam — bowed down; dīnam — meek; kim — what; karomi — shall I do; iti — thus; vādinam — inquiring; niṣīda — just sit down; iti — thus; abruvan — they replied; tāta — my dear Vidura; saḥ — he; niṣādaḥ — of the name Niṣāda; tataḥ — thereafter; abhavat — became.

TRANSLATION

He was very submissive and meek, and immediately after his birth he bowed down and inquired, “Sirs, what shall I do?” The great sages replied, “Please sit down [niṣīda].” Thus Niṣāda, the father of the Naiṣāda race, was born.

VERSE 4.14.46

tasya vaṁśyās tu naiṣādā
giri-kānana-gocarāḥ
yenāharaj jāyamāno
vena-kalmaṣam ulbaṇam

SYNONYMS

tasya — his (Niṣāda’s); vaṁśyāḥ — descendants; tu — then; naiṣādāḥ — called Naiṣādas; giri-kānana — the hills and forests; gocarāḥ — inhabiting; yena — because; aharat — he took upon himself; jāyamānaḥ — being born; vena — of King Vena; kalmaṣam — all kinds of sin; ulbaṇam — very fearful.

TRANSLATION

After his [Niṣāda’s] birth, he immediately took charge of all the resultant actions of King Vena’s sinful activities. As such, this Naiṣāda class are always engaged in sinful activities like stealing, plundering and hunting. Consequently they are only allowed to live in the hills and forests.