Shloka 6
King Vena’s Tyranny, the Sages’ Counsel, and the Birth of Niṣāda
न यष्टव्यं न दातव्यं न होतव्यं द्विजा: क्वचित् । इति न्यवारयद्धर्मं भेरीघोषेण सर्वश: ॥ ६ ॥
na yaṣṭavyaṁ na dātavyaṁ na hotavyaṁ dvijāḥ kvacit iti nyavārayad dharmaṁ bherī-ghoṣeṇa sarvaśaḥ
He proclaimed, “O dvijas, no sacrifice is to be performed, no charity given, and no ghee offered.” With kettledrums resounding everywhere, he halted all religious rites.
What was committed by King Vena many years ago is at present being carried out by atheistic governments all over the world. The world situation is so tense that at any moment governments may issue declarations to stop religious rituals. Eventually the world situation will become so degraded that it will be impossible for pious men to live on the planet. Therefore sane people should execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness very seriously, so that they can go back home, back to Godhead, without having to further suffer the miserable conditions predominant in this universe.
FAQs
This verse shows that forbidding sacrifice (yajña), charity (dāna), and fire-offerings (homa) is a direct suppression of dharma that leads to widespread irreligion.
In the narrative of Canto 4, Vena becomes hostile to Vedic religion and uses royal power to prohibit dharmic practices, publicly announcing the ban to stop religious life.
Support and protect genuine spiritual practice—regular worship, generosity, and service—because when these are discouraged, society quickly loses moral and spiritual direction.