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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
4.14.254.14.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.14.26-27

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

विष्णुर्विरिञ्चो गिरिश इन्द्रो वायुर्यमो रवि: ।

पर्जन्यो धनद: सोम: क्षितिरग्निरपाम्पति: ॥ २६ ॥

एते चान्ये च विबुधा: प्रभवो वरशापयो: ।

देहे भवन्ति नृपते: सर्वदेवमयो नृप: ॥ २७ ॥

viṣṇur viriñco giriśa

indro vāyur yamo raviḥ

parjanyo dhanadaḥ somaḥ

kṣitir agnir apāmpatiḥ

ete cānye ca vibudhāḥ

prabhavo vara-śāpayoḥ

dehe bhavanti nṛpateḥ

sarva-devamayo nṛpaḥ

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu; Lord Brahmā; Lord Śiva; Lord Indra; Vāyu, the master of air; Yama, the superintendent of death; the sun-god; the director of rainfall; Kuvera, the treasurer; the moon-god; the predominating deity of the earth; Agni, the fire-god; Varuṇa, the lord of waters; and all others who are great and competent to bestow benedictions or to curse — all abide in the body of the king. For this reason the king is known as the reservoir of all demigods, who are simply parts and parcels of the king’s body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

False Pride Claims the Supreme Position

  1. 1

    King Vena claimed that Lord Viṣṇu and all the listed deities abide in the king's body. He presented the king as their reservoir.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that false pride leads demons to think themselves supreme and claim control over the sun, moon, and other planets.

  3. 3

    Vena developed this demonic mentality and presented himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Great sages and saintly persons condemn such claims.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many demons who think of themselves as the Supreme and present themselves as the directors of the sun, moon and other planets.
  • Similarly, King Vena developed the demonic mentality and presented himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Such demons are numerous in this Age of Kali, and all of them are condemned by great sages and saintly persons.

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. viṣṇuḥLord Viṣṇu
  2. viriñcaḥLord Brahmā
  3. giriśaḥLord Śiva
  4. indraḥLord Indra
  5. vāyuḥVāyu, the director of the air
  6. yamaḥYama, the superintendent of death
  7. raviḥthe sun-god
  8. parjanyaḥthe director of rainfall
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 4.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “death”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “pride”

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

Where do you notice the wish to appear greater or more powerful than you are?

Practice

Acknowledge one limit of your own power today instead of exaggerating your importance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFalse Pride Claims the Supreme PositionThis 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 4.14.26-27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.