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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
4.14.334.14.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.34

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The saintly sagessince 4.14.32inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

इत्थं व्यवसिता हन्तुमृषयो रूढमन्यव: ।

निजघ्नुर्हुङ्कृतैर्वेनं हतमच्युतनिन्दया ॥ ३४ ॥

itthaṁ vyavasitā hantum

ṛṣayo rūḍha-manyavaḥ

nijaghnur huṅkṛtair venaṁ

hatam acyuta-nindayā

Translation

The great sages, thus manifesting their covert anger, immediately decided to kill the King. King Vena was already as good as dead due to his blasphemy against the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus without using any weapons, the sages killed King Vena simply by high-sounding words.

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.

Blasphemy Brought King Vena’s Downfall

  1. 1

    The sages’ anger became manifest, and they decided to kill King Vena.

  2. 2

    The translation describes the King as already as good as dead because of his blasphemy against the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The sages killed him simply by high-sounding words, without using weapons.

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. itthamthus
  2. vyavasitāḥdecided
  3. hantumto kill
  4. ṛṣayaḥthe sages
  5. rūḍhamanifested
  6. manyavaḥtheir anger
  7. nijaghnuḥthey killed
  8. hum-kṛtaiḥby angry words or by sounds of hum
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 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

How does this account deepen my awareness of the seriousness of insulting the Lord?

Practice

Take a moment today to examine whether your words about the Lord express respect.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBlasphemy Brought King Vena’s DownfallThis 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 4.14.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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