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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 14: The Story of King Vena
4.14.294.14.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.30

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.14.29inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इति तेऽसत्कृतास्तेन द्विजा: पण्डितमानिना ।

भग्नायां भव्ययाच्ञायां तस्मै विदुर चुक्रुधु: ॥ ३० ॥

iti te ’sat-kṛtās tena

dvijāḥ paṇḍita-māninā

bhagnāyāṁ bhavya-yācñāyāṁ

tasmai vidura cukrudhuḥ

Translation

My dear Vidura, all good fortune unto you. The foolish King, who thought himself very learned, thus insulted the great sages, and the sages, being brokenhearted by the King’s words, became very angry at him.

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.

False Learning Leads to Hurtful Speech

  1. 1

    The king was foolish, yet he thought himself very learned.

  2. 2

    Instead of receiving the great sages respectfully, he insulted them.

  3. 3

    The sages were brokenhearted by his words and became very angry with him.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. teall the great sages
  3. asat-kṛtāḥbeing insulted
  4. tenaby the King
  5. dvijāḥthe brāhmaṇas
  6. paṇḍita-mānināthinking himself to be very learned
  7. bhagnāyāmbeing broken
  8. bhavyaauspicious
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”

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

Has confidence in your knowledge ever made your words hurtful?

Practice

Before responding to advice today, pause and choose words that do not insult the speaker.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFalse Learning Leads to Hurtful SpeechThis 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 4.14.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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