Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 34

King Vena’s Tyranny, the Sages’ Counsel, and the Birth of Niṣāda

Devanagari script

इत्थं व्यवसिता हन्तुमृषयो रूढमन्यव: । निजघ्नुर्हुङ्कृतैर्वेनं हतमच्युतनिन्दया ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

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.

Synonyms

• इत्थम्: thus, in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• व्यवसिताः: resolved, determined
• व्यवसिताः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यवसित (कृदन्त; √वस्/वस्? → √वस्/वस् not; here from √वस्? actually √वस् not; standard: व्यव-√सो (सव्)??; accepted: व्यवसित (कृदन्त, √सद्/√सि?); lexical: 'vyavasita' from √सो (सव्) not; treat as 'vyavasita' (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'determined/resolved' qualifying ऋषयः

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to kill'

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• रूढ-मन्यवः: with anger aroused
• रूढ-मन्यवः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूढ (कृदन्त) + मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'whose anger had risen' qualifying ऋषयः

• निजघ्नुः: they struck down/killed
• निजघ्नुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• हुङ्कृतैः: by their shouts/roars
• हुङ्कृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √हुङ्कृ/हुं-√कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (collective/act), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental of means

• वेनम्: Vena
• वेनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• हतम्: killed, slain
• हतम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (कृदन्त; √हन्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifying वेनम्

• अच्युत-निन्दया: by blasphemy of Acyuta (Vishnu)
• अच्युत-निन्दया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) 'अच्युतस्य निन्दा'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Vena
• Ṛṣis (the sages)
• Acyuta (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about blasphemy of Lord Vishnu (Acyuta-ninda)?

This verse states that King Vena was effectively destroyed by his blasphemy of Acyuta; the sages’ act only manifested the consequence of that offense.

Why did the sages kill King Vena in Bhagavatam Canto 4?

Because Vena opposed dharma and blasphemed the Supreme Lord; with anger aroused, the sages resolved to stop his irreligious rule and struck him down through sacred sound.

Practical application: what is the lesson of King Vena’s downfall for modern life?

Guard one’s speech and attitude toward God and devotees, avoid contempt for dharma, and recognize that arrogance and blasphemy bring swift inner and outer ruin.