Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 17

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

एतद्वेदितुमिच्छाम: सर्व एव वयं मुने । भगवन्निन्दया वेनो द्विजैस्तमसि पातित: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

etad veditum icchāmaḥ sarva eva vayaṁ mune bhagavan-nindayā veno dvijais tamasi pātitaḥ

Translation

O great sage, we are all eager to know the cause for this mercy of the Lord. I have heard that formerly a king named Vena blasphemed the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that all the brāhmaṇas consequently obliged him to go to hell. Śiśupāla should also have been sent to hell. How then did he merge into the Lord’s existence?

Synonyms

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वेदितुम्: to know
• वेदितुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमुन्), from √विद्; ‘to know’

• इच्छामः: we desire
• इच्छामः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन; √इष्/इच्छ् ‘to desire’

• सर्वे: all (of us)
• सर्वे: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्धसूचक (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic ‘indeed/just’)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; 1st person pronoun

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• भगवत्-निन्दया: by blaspheming the Lord
• भगवत्-निन्दया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘by the Lord’s blasphemy’

• वेनः: Vena
• वेनः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• द्विजैः: by the brāhmaṇas (twice-born)
• द्विजैः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• तमसि: into darkness
• तमसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पातितः: was cast/fallen
• पातितः: कर्म-कर्तृभाव/विधेय (Predicate; patient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) from √पत् (causative sense ‘to cause to fall’ in usage); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate of ‘venaḥ’

Characters & Entities

• Vena
• Brāhmaṇas (Dvijas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about blaspheming the Supreme Lord (Bhagavan ninda)?

This verse highlights that blasphemy of the Lord leads to spiritual degradation—symbolized as being thrown into darkness—showing Bhagavan-nindā as a grave offense.

Why did King Parikshit ask about King Vena being cast into darkness by the brahmanas?

Parīkṣit wants the detailed account and moral lesson: how Vena’s offense against the Lord led the brāhmaṇas to punish him, illustrating the protection of dharma and the seriousness of aparādha.

Practical application: how can I avoid spiritual downfall described in this shloka?

Avoid criticizing God, scripture, saints, and sincere devotees; cultivate respectful speech, hear Bhāgavatam regularly, and practice humility—these protect one from offenses that block bhakti.