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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
4.14.114.14.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly sagessince 4.14.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तद्विद्वद्‌भिरसद्‍वृत्तो वेनोऽस्माभि: कृतो नृप: ।

सान्त्वितो यदि नो वाचं न ग्रहीष्यत्यधर्मकृत् ।

लोकधिक्कारसन्दग्धं दहिष्याम: स्वतेजसा ॥ १२ ॥

tad-vidvadbhir asad-vṛtto

veno ’smābhiḥ kṛto nṛpaḥ

sāntvito yadi no vācaṁ

na grahīṣyaty adharma-kṛt

loka-dhikkāra-sandagdhaṁ

dahiṣyāmaḥ sva-tejasā

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting for Everyone’s Welfare

  1. 1

    Saintly persons are not interested in politics, but they always think of the people’s welfare. Sometimes they intervene to correct misguided rulers.

  2. 2

    The sages of former times possessed spiritual power that saintly persons in Kali-yuga no longer have. Their extraordinary actions are not a model for imitation today.

  3. 3

    Instead of actively entering politics, saintly persons should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. By Lord Caitanya’s grace, this chanting can bring all benefits to the general populace.

Key points from the purport
  • Saintly persons are not interested in political matters, yet they are always thinking of the welfare of the people in general.
  • Now saintly persons have no such power due to the influence of the Age of Kali.
  • Under these circumstances, instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly persons should engage in chanting the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa.

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. tathis mischievous nature
  2. vidvadbhiḥaware of
  3. asat-vṛttaḥimpious
  4. venaḥVena
  5. asmābhiḥby us
  6. kṛtaḥwas made
  7. nṛpaḥking
  8. sāntvitaḥ(in spite of) being pacified
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “king”, “rulers”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “chant”

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

How can I give chanting a place in my concern for others’ welfare?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanting for Everyone’s WelfareThis 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.

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