Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

अहो उभयत: प्राप्तं लोकस्य व्यसनं महत् । दारुण्युभयतो दीप्ते इव तस्करपालयो: ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

aho ubhayataḥ prāptaṁ lokasya vyasanaṁ mahat dāruṇy ubhayato dīpte iva taskara-pālayoḥ

Translation

When the great sages consulted one another, they saw that the people were in a dangerous position from both directions. When a fire blazes on both ends of a log, the ants in the middle are in a very dangerous situation. Similarly, at that time the people in general were in a dangerous position due to an irresponsible king on one side and thieves and rogues on the other.

Synonyms

• अहो: alas!
• अहो: भाव-प्रकाशक (Exclamation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विस्मय/शोकादि-उद्गार (interjection)

• उभयतः: from both sides
• उभयतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशार्थक/पक्षद्वयार्थक (adverb: from both sides)

• प्राप्तम्: has befallen
• प्राप्तम्: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त (कृदन्त; √आप् (धातु) प्र उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; 'has come/has befallen'

• लोकस्य: of the people/world
• लोकस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• व्यसनम्: calamity, distress
• व्यसनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/theme)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying vyasanam)

• दारुणि: in a dreadful condition
• दारुणि: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुणि (प्रातिपदिक; दारुण-शब्दस्य नपुंसक/सप्तमी एकवचन-रूपम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; 'in a dreadful (situation)'

• उभयतः: on both sides
• उभयतः: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; 'on both sides'

• दीप्ते: blazing
• दीप्ते: विशेषण (Adjective in locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त (कृदन्त; √दीप् (धातु), क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; दारुणि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इव: as if; like
• इव: उपमा-सूचक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-वाचक

• तस्कर-पालयोः: of thieves and guards
• तस्कर-पालयोः: उपमान-सम्बन्ध (Genitive of comparison: 'of thieves and guards')
• Type: Noun
• Root: तस्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (तस्करौ च पालौ च)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about suffering under unrighteous rulers?

This verse describes how society can be trapped in great distress from both sides, comparing the people’s plight to being caught between a thief and royal police—highlighting the misery caused when governance becomes harsh and irreligious.

Who is speaking this verse in Canto 4 Chapter 14?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating the events surrounding King Vena and the resulting turmoil affecting the people.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

The verse warns against systems where people feel squeezed by exploitation from multiple directions; it encourages supporting dharmic leadership, personal integrity, and community structures that protect rather than prey upon citizens.