Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

वीरमातरमाहूय सुनीथां ब्रह्मवादिन: । प्रकृत्यसम्मतं वेनमभ्यषिञ्चन् पतिं भुव: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

vīra-mātaram āhūya sunīthāṁ brahma-vādinaḥ prakṛty-asammataṁ venam abhyaṣiñcan patiṁ bhuvaḥ

Translation

随后，通晓梵理的圣贤们召来王太后苏尼萨。经她许可，他们为众人所认可的韦那行灌顶礼，立其登基为大地之主。

Synonyms

• vīra-mātaram: the mother of the hero
• vīra-mātaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘hero’s mother’; Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āhūya: having called
• āhūya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√hū (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्) from ā-√hū; ‘having summoned’

• sunīthām: Sunīthā
• sunīthām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sunīthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; in apposition to vīra-mātaram

• brahma-vādinaḥ: the brāhmaṇa sages/vedic speakers
• brahma-vādinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vādin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘speakers of brahman/veda’; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• prakṛti-asammatam: not approved by nature
• prakṛti-asammatam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prakṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + asammata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘not approved by nature/constitution’; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying ‘venam’

• venam: Vena
• venam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• abhyaṣiñcan: they anointed
• abhyaṣiñcan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√sic (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; parasmaipada; ‘they anointed’

• patim: as lord/king
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate object ‘as lord’

• bhuvaḥ: of the earth
• bhuvaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Sunīthā
• Vena

FAQs

Why was King Vena anointed as ruler in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 14?

The sages, following accepted social custom and political necessity, summoned his mother Sunīthā and performed Vena’s coronation as the ruler of the earth.

Who is speaking this verse about Sunīthā and Vena in the Bhagavatam?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this event while describing the rise of King Vena in Canto 4, Chapter 14.

What practical lesson does this verse teach about leadership and dharma?

Leadership may be established by social convention, but true legitimacy ultimately depends on dharmic conduct—otherwise the same society must later correct or restrain unrighteous rule.