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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 14: The Story of King Vena
4.14.94.14.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The sagessince 4.14.10inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अहेरिव पय:पोष: पोषकस्याप्यनर्थभृत् ।

वेन: प्रकृत्यैव खल: सुनीथागर्भसम्भव: ॥ १० ॥

aher iva payaḥ-poṣaḥ

poṣakasyāpy anartha-bhṛt

venaḥ prakṛtyaiva khalaḥ

sunīthā-garbha-sambhavaḥ

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Support Can Strengthen Harmful Conduct

  1. 1

    The saintly persons supported Vena to protect the citizens from rogues and thieves. Instead, he became a source of trouble to them.

  2. 2

    The saints especially valued sacrifices and austerities for spiritual advancement. Rather than being grateful for their mercy, Vena became their enemy by forbidding these duties.

  3. 3

    The sages compared supporting Vena to maintaining a snake with milk. Such care strengthens the snake without removing its capacity to harm its maintainer.

Key points from the purport
  • Saintly persons are generally aloof from social activities and the materialistic way of life.
  • King Vena was supported by the saintly persons just to protect the citizens from the hands of rogues and thieves, but after his ascendance to the throne, he became a source of trouble to the sages.
  • Saintly people are especially interested in performing sacrifices and austerities for the advancement of spiritual life, but Vena, instead of being obliged because of the saints’ mercy, turned out to be their enemy because he prohibited them from executing their ordinary duties.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 14: The Story of King Vena

Vena rejects the sages’ advice; after his death, they seek to preserve King Aṅga’s family.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aheḥof a snake
  2. ivalike
  3. payaḥwith milk
  4. poṣaḥthe maintaining
  5. poṣakasyaof the maintainer
  6. apieven
  7. anarthaagainst the interest
  8. bhṛtbecomes
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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 4.14

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Could any support I give be strengthening conduct that obstructs spiritual life?

Practice

Review one commitment of your time or resources today, asking whether it supports spiritual progress or harmful conduct.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySupport Can Strengthen Harmful ConductThis 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 4.14.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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