Shloka 5

Devanagari script

अङ्गस्य वेणः पुत्रस्तु नास्तिको धर्मवर्जितः / अधर्ंमकारी वेण(न) श्च मुनिभिश्च कुशैर्हतः

Transliteration

aṅgasya veṇaḥ putrastu nāstiko dharmavarjitaḥ / adharṃmakārī veṇa(na) śca munibhiśca kuśairhataḥ

Translation

Aṅga’s son Veṇa was an unbeliever, bereft of dharma. Given to unrighteous deeds, that Veṇa was slain by the sages with blades of kuśa grass.

Word by Word

• अङ्गस्य: of Aṅga
• अङ्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वेणः: Vena
• वेणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नास्तिकः: atheistic/impious
• नास्तिकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नास्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर्मवर्जितः: devoid of dharma
• धर्मवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + वर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘धर्मेण वर्जितः’/‘धर्मात् वर्जितः’)

• अधर्मकारी: doer of unrighteousness
• अधर्मकारी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर्म + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘अधर्मं करोति’)

• वेणः: Vena
• वेणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass (as weapon)
• कुशैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• हतः: was slain
• हतः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + त (क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘was slain’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra, traditional Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Atheistic rejection of dharma by a ruler leads to downfall; rishi-tejas enforces moral order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala and the self-correcting tendency of dharma within the cosmic order; tamasic denial of dharma yields destruction.

Application: Leaders must uphold ethical norms; communities must non-violently (or minimally harmfully) restrain systemic wrongdoing through lawful, principled means.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ashrama/royal realm (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana narratives on adharmic kings and consequences; didactic contrasts between dharmic and adharmic conduct

Characters & Entities

• Aṅga
• Veṇa
• Munis
• Kuśa

FAQs

What is the importance of the Veṇa episode in the Garuda Purana?

It illustrates that rejecting dharma and promoting adharma—especially by a ruler—destroys social order and invites decisive corrective action by dharma-protecting sages.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames a moral causality: persistent adharma leads to severe consequences, establishing the ethical basis for later Garuda Purana teachings on post-death outcomes tied to one’s conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat dharma (ethical duty, truthfulness, restraint) as non-negotiable—especially in leadership and public life—because normalizing adharma harms both the individual and the wider community.