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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
4.14.224.14.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.23

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Venasince 4.14.23inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वेन उवाच

बालिशा बत यूयं वा अधर्मे धर्ममानिन: ।

ये वृत्तिदं पतिं हित्वा जारं पतिमुपासते ॥ २३ ॥

vena uvāca

bāliśā bata yūyaṁ vā

adharme dharma-māninaḥ

ye vṛttidaṁ patiṁ hitvā

jāraṁ patim upāsate

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.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pride Rejects the Advice of Sages

  1. 1

    King Vena foolishly accused the saintly sages of being inexperienced like small children. By questioning their knowledge, he rejected their advice.

  2. 2

    The duty of the kṣatriyas is to engage the brāhmaṇas in religious activities. The king is supposed to maintain the brāhmaṇas.

  3. 3

    Vena compared the sages to an unfaithful wife who neglects her maintainer. Through this comparison, he accused them of disloyalty for worshiping the demigods rather than the king.

Key points from the purport
  • King Vena was so foolish that he accused the saintly sages of being inexperienced like small children.
  • The purpose of this simile is apparent: It is the duty of the kṣatriyas to engage the brāhmaṇas in different types of religious activities, and the king is supposed to be the maintainer of the brāhmaṇas.
  • If the brāhmaṇas do not worship the king but instead go to the demigods, they are as polluted as unchaste women.

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. venaḥKing Vena
  2. uvācareplied
  3. bāliśāḥchildish
  4. bataoh
  5. yūyamall of you
  6. vāindeed
  7. adharmein irreligious principles
  8. dharma-māninaḥaccepting as religious
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “worship”, “worshiping”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “duty”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    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 advice challenges you, do you consider it or dismiss the person offering it?

Practice

Listen to one piece of helpful advice today without immediately defending yourself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPride Rejects the Advice of SagesThis 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 4.14.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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