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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 13: Description of the Descendants of Dhruva Mahārāja
4.13.414.13.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.13.42

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The head priestssince 4.13.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तं विचक्ष्य खलं पुत्रं शासनैर्विविधैर्नृप: ।

यदा न शासितुं कल्पो भृशमासीत्सुदुर्मना: ॥ ४२ ॥

taṁ vicakṣya khalaṁ putraṁ

śāsanair vividhair nṛpaḥ

yadā na śāsituṁ kalpo

bhṛśam āsīt sudurmanāḥ

Translation

After seeing the cruel and merciless behavior of his son, Vena, King Aṅga punished him in different ways to reform him, but was unable to bring him to the path of gentleness. He thus became greatly aggrieved.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Reform Cannot Always Be Forced

  1. 1

    King Aṅga observed the cruel and merciless behavior of his son, Vena.

  2. 2

    He punished Vena in different ways with the aim of reforming him. Yet he could not bring his son to the path of gentleness.

  3. 3

    The failure of these efforts left the King greatly aggrieved.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: 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.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim
  2. vicakṣyaobserving
  3. khalamcruel
  4. putramson
  5. śāsanaiḥby punishments
  6. vividhaiḥdifferent kinds of
  7. nṛpaḥthe King
  8. yadāwhen
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.13

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I correct someone, is gentleness the change I truly hope to encourage?

Practice

If you need to correct someone today, pause first and clearly identify the gentle behavior you hope to encourage.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReform Cannot Always Be ForcedThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.13.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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