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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
4.14.434.14.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.14.44

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

काककृष्णोऽतिह्रस्वाङ्गो ह्रस्वबाहुर्महाहनु: ।

ह्रस्वपान्निम्ननासाग्रो रक्ताक्षस्ताम्रमूर्धज: ॥ ४४ ॥

kāka-kṛṣṇo ’tihrasvāṅgo

hrasva-bāhur mahā-hanuḥ

hrasva-pān nimna-nāsāgro

raktākṣas tāmra-mūrdhajaḥ

Translation

This person born from King Vena’s thighs was named Bāhuka, and his complexion was as black as a crow’s. All the limbs of his body were very short, his arms and legs were short, and his jaws were large. His nose was flat, his eyes were reddish, and his hair copper-colored.

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.

Bāhuka’s Bodily Appearance

  1. 1

    The person born from King Vena’s thighs was named Bāhuka. His complexion was as black as a crow’s.

  2. 2

    His limbs, including his arms and legs, were very short. His jaws were large.

  3. 3

    His nose was flat, his eyes reddish, and his hair copper-colored. This verse describes his bodily appearance.

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. kāka-kṛṣṇaḥas black as a crow
  2. ati-hrasvavery short
  3. aṅgaḥhis limbs
  4. hrasvashort
  5. bāhuḥhis arms
  6. mahābig
  7. hanuḥhis jaws
  8. hrasvashort
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

  • 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

Which details of Bāhuka’s appearance can I recall from the translation?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, then recall three details it gives about Bāhuka.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBāhuka’s Bodily AppearanceThis 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 4.14.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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