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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
4.14.384.14.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.14.39-40

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

तदुपद्रवमाज्ञाय लोकस्य वसु लुम्पताम् ।

भर्तर्युपरते तस्मिन्नन्योन्यं च जिघांसताम् ॥ ३९ ॥

चोरप्रायं जनपदं हीनसत्त्वमराजकम् ।

लोकान्नावारयञ्छक्ता अपि तद्दोषदर्शिन: ॥ ४० ॥

tad upadravam ājñāya

lokasya vasu lumpatām

bhartary uparate tasminn

anyonyaṁ ca jighāṁ-satām

cora-prāyaṁ jana-padaṁ

hīna-sattvam arājakam

lokān nāvārayañ chaktā

api tad-doṣa-darśinaḥ

Translation

Upon seeing the dust storm, the saintly persons could understand that there were a great deal of irregularities due to the death of King Vena. Without government, the state was devoid of law and order, and consequently there was a great uprising of murderous thieves and rogues, who were plundering the riches of the people in general. Although the great sages could subdue the disturbance by their powers — just as they could kill the King — they considered it improper on their part to do so. Thus they did not attempt to stop the disturbance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Power Must Be Guided by Duty

  1. 1

    After King Vena’s death, the absence of government brought lawlessness, plundering, and murderous thieves.

  2. 2

    The sages could have subdued the thieves through the power of their mantras, but they considered it improper to take over that duty.

  3. 3

    Killing was not the ordinary duty of brāhmaṇas and saintly persons; their action against Vena had been an emergency. They regarded suppressing the uprising as the duty of kṣatriya kings.

Key points from the purport
  • The saintly persons and great sages killed King Vena out of emergency, but they did not choose to take part in the government in order to subdue the uprising of thieves and rogues, which took place after the death of King Vena.
  • It is not the duty of brāhmaṇas and saintly persons to kill, although they may sometimes do so in the case of an emergency.
  • Thus they reluctantly did not take part in the killing business.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatat that time
  2. upadravamthe disturbance
  3. ājñāyaunderstanding
  4. lokasyaof the people in general
  5. vasuriches
  6. lumpatāmby those who were plundering
  7. bhartarithe protector
  8. uparatebeing dead
3

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”, “government”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “understand”

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 I have the ability to intervene, do I also consider whether it is my proper responsibility?

Practice

Before taking over one task today, pause to identify whose responsibility it is.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPower Must Be Guided by DutyThis 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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