1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.14.414.14.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.42

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

नाङ्गस्य वंशो राजर्षेरेष संस्थातुमर्हति ।

अमोघवीर्या हि नृपा वंशेऽस्मिन् केशवाश्रया: ॥ ४२ ॥

nāṅgasya vaṁśo rājarṣer

eṣa saṁsthātum arhati

amogha-vīryā hi nṛpā

vaṁśe ’smin keśavāśrayāḥ

Translation

The sages decided that the descendants of the family of the saintly King Aṅga should not be stopped, for in this family the semen was very powerful and the children were prone to become devotees of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Preserve a Family’s Devotional Direction

  1. 1

    The sages wanted King Aṅga’s family line to continue because its children were inclined to become devotees of the Lord.

  2. 2

    The purport calls purity of hereditary succession amogha-vīrya. It stresses purificatory processes beginning with garbhādhāna-saṁskāra before conceiving a child.

  3. 3

    The purport describes King Vena’s birth as a catastrophe in Dhruva Mahārāja’s family, connecting it with Aṅga’s association with Sunīthā. The sages considered the situation and resolved to act.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless this purificatory process is strictly observed, especially by the brāhmaṇas, the family descendants become impure, and gradually sinful activities become visible in the family.
  • Mahārāja Aṅga was very pure because of the purification of semen in the family of Mahārāja Dhruva.
  • All the saintly persons and sages considered this point, and they decided to take action in this matter, as described in the following verses.

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. nanot
  2. aṅgasyaof King Aṅga
  3. vaṁśaḥfamily line
  4. rāja-ṛṣeḥof the saintly King
  5. eṣaḥthis
  6. saṁsthātumto be stopped
  7. arhatiought
  8. amoghawithout sin, powerful
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.14

    In this verse: “children”

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

What priority do I give to nurturing devotion to the Lord within family life?

Practice

Write down one small way you can encourage devotion to the Lord in your household today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPreserve a Family’s Devotional DirectionThis 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 4.14.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories