Canto 4: The Creation of the Fourth Order
SB4.13

Canto 4 · Chapter 13 · 49 verses · 1 story

Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja

Dhruva’s descendants are described, followed by an account of a sonless king and the cruel boy Vena.

Read on Vedabase
Connected storiesThe PracetāsBharata Mahārāja and Jaḍa Bharata
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · King Vena, King Aṅga, Bhṛgu and the sages

The story · In the account of Dhruva’s descendants, Vena appears as a cruel boy who needlessly killed innocent deer. In King Aṅga’s absence, the sages made Vena king to protect the people, but the king himself became a source of disturbance. They offered him good advice about righteous rule and worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vena rejected their counsel and demanded that the offerings of sacrifice be given to him instead. After his death, the sages feared disorder and resolved to preserve the family of the saintly King Aṅga.

What it teaches · A pious ruler supports citizens in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through their occupations. Royal power does not justify demanding the worship due to the Lord.

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

What it teaches · Even a moment’s association with a devotee can free one from attraction to the results of fruitive work and speculative knowledge.

O greatly advanced devotee, who were the Pracetās?

The great Nārada’s singing, in the previous chapter, of three verses in the sacrificial arena of the Pracetās gave another impetus to Vidura to ask further questions.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.13.2 (Text 2)
Read the story in SB 4.24–25

What it teaches · Bharata directed both his royal duties and his retired life toward pleasing the Supreme Lord. Constant devotional service increased his love for Kṛṣṇa.

In order to avoid contradiction, botheration and unfavorable situations created by materialistic persons, a great saintly person like Jaḍa Bharata or Utkala remains silent.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.13.10 (Text 10)
Read the story in SB 5.7

Other Bhāgavatam verses Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes here