Shloka 40
Dhruva-vaṁśa Continuation: Utkala’s Renunciation, Aṅga’s Sacrifice, and the Birth of Vena
Prelude to Pṛthu
स शरासनमुद्यम्य मृगयुर्वनगोचर: । हन्त्यसाधुर्मृगान् दीनान् वेनोऽसावित्यरौज्जन: ॥ ४० ॥
sa śarāsanam udyamya mṛgayur vana-gocaraḥ hanty asādhur mṛgān dīnān veno ’sāv ity arauj janaḥ
After fixing his bow and arrow, the cruel boy used to go to the forest and unnecessarily kill innocent deer, and as soon as he came all the people would cry, “Here comes cruel Vena! Here comes cruel Vena!”
Kṣatriyas are allowed to hunt in the forest for the purpose of learning the killing art, not to kill animals for eating or for any other purpose. The kṣatriya kings were sometimes expected to cut off the head of a culprit in the state. For this reason the kṣatriyas were allowed to hunt in the forest. Because this son of King Aṅga, Vena, was born of a bad mother, he was very cruel, and he used to go to the forest and unnecessarily kill the animals. All the neighboring inhabitants would be frightened by his presence, and they would call, “Here comes Vena! Here comes Vena!” So from the beginning of his life he was fearful to the citizens.
FAQs
This verse condemns senseless violence: Vena, acting as an irreligious hunter, kills helpless deer, showing how adharma hardens the heart and brings public suffering.
Because Vena’s behavior became openly brutal and unkingly—he roamed like a forest hunter and killed innocent animals—so the citizens recognized him as the source of their misery and lamented loudly.
Power without dharma becomes cruelty; this verse urges compassion, restraint, and accountability—especially for leaders and anyone whose choices affect the vulnerable.