Chapter 14 - The Story of Vena: Pṛthu’s Birth

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Maitreya said:

1-2. Bhṛgu and other sages who were solicitous about the well-being of the people, saw that men are reduced to brute-level at the time of anarchy. Those sages, well versed in the Vedas, invited Sunīthā, the mother of the hero (Vena), and coronated Vena as the Lord of the Earth, even though he was not approved by ministers or people.

3. Having heard that Vena, the very high-handed iron ruler, had ascended the throne, robbers hid themselves immediately like rats afraid of a serpent.

4. After occupying the king’s place he who became proud and self-conceited, regarded himself invested with the powers of the eight protectors of the world automatically, and contemptuously treated the great sages.

5. He, who thus became blind with pride, and haughty like an elephant uncontrolled by goads, mounted his chariot and wandered over the earth shaking heaven and earth.

6. With the sound of drums, he promulgated everywhere, “Oh Dvijas, you shall never perform worship, and shall give no donations and shall not perform sacrifices”. Thus he prohibited religion everywhere.

7. The sages, seeing the ill-behaved conduct of Vena, and considering the public calamity, assembled at a sacrificial session and said.

8. “A great danger has arisen to people from both sides:—from robbers and the king, like (that to ants who find themselves in the middle of) a piece of wood burning from both sides.

9. This unworthy prince was made a king on account of the fear of anarchy. But today danger has arisen even from him. How can the welfare of beings be ensured?

10-11. Vena who is born from the womb of Sunīthā, is hereditarily wicked. Just as the nourishing of a snake with milk is dangerous even to the man who so feeds it, Vena who has been appointed as the protector of the subjects verily desires to destroy them. Let us (however) persuade him (to behave properly) so that his sin may not touch us.

11-13. Despite our full knowledge of Vena’s wicked conduct and sinfulness, we made him the king. If, in spite of our gentle persuasions, that unrighteous fellow does not abide by our words of advice, let us burn him by our spiritual power, although he is already burnt by the reproach of the people”. Having decided thus, the sages, concealing their anger, approached that Vena, and pacifying him with conciliatory words, spoke.

Sages said:

14. “Oh Great King! Please note that what we propose to urge for your consideration will, Oh child, increase your longevity, prosperity, power and glory.

15. Righteous duty (Dharma) practised in thought, word, deed and understanding, bestows on ordinary people worlds which are free from sorrows and the eternal abode (Mokṣa) to those who perform it without any attachment (to its fruits).

16. Oh brave king, let not your Dharma (duty) of ensuring security and well being of the subjects, be neglected (and lost) by you. For when it is lost (disregarded), the king falls from his rulership.

17. Oh king, a king who protects his subjects from wicked ministers and from thieves (and other miscreants) and takes revenue (from them as prescribed in Śāstras), leads a happy life.

18-19. Oh illustrious King! The Lord creator of all beings, the Soul of the universe is pleased with the king who obeys his commands, and in whose kingdom and capital city, the glorious presiding deity of the sacrifice is worshipped according to their dharma, by persons who follow the duties of their respective Varṇa (social class) and āśrama (stage of life).

20 What is unattainable, when the Lord of the rulers of the worlds (e.g. god Brahmā etc.) is pleased? For all the worlds along with their protecting deities devoutly offer worship to him.

21.^[1] Oh King! It behoves you to approve of, and be conciliatory to the inhabitants of your country^[2] who, for your prosperity, worship, by performance of various sacrifices, the Lord who is the Controller of all worlds, gods and sacrifices—the Lord who is the embodiment of three Vedas and of all sacrificial materials, and who is the object of penance.

22. Oh brave king, if gods who are parts (aṃśas) of Hari, are properly worshipped and well-propitiated by performance of sacrificial sessions by the twice-born Brāhmaṇas, Kṣattriyas and Vaiśyas, they will confer whatever is desired by you. It is not, therefore, proper to disrespect them (by prohibiting sacrificial and religious performances).

Vena said:

23. Verily, all of you are foolish. You regard nonrighteousness ṭadharma) as righteousness (dharma). What a pity! Abandoning the husband who gives you means of subsistence, you wait upon a paramour.

24. Those fools who disregard the supreme Lord in the form of a king, do not obtain any good either here or hereafter.

25. Who is this Yajñapuruṣa (the presiding deity of sacrifices) for whom you cherish such (intense) devotion like characterless women who, being absolutely devoid of love for their husbands, cherish it for their gallants.

26-27. Gods like Viṣṇu (the protector of the universe), Brahmā (the creator of the world), Śiva (the destroyer of the universe), Indra, Vāyu (Wind), Yama (god of death), the Sun (-god), the rain-god, the god of Wealth (Kubera), the Moon (-god), the (presiding deity of the) Earth, the Fire (-god) and Varuṇa (the Lord of Waters)—these and other gods who are competent to confer boons or pronounce curses reside in the person of the sovereign ruler. The Monarch is thus the embodiment of all gods.

28. Therefore, Oh Brāhmaṇas! Being free from jealousy, you worship me with your religious rites. Give me all your offerings (taxes etc.). What other person than me, deserves to be propitiated (honoured) for it?

Maitreya said:

29. Even though so humbly entreated, the wretched sinner was of such a perverted mind and had gone so astray on the wrong path, that he did not accede to their supplications, for he had lost all auspiciousness.

30. Oh Vidura! When he, priding himself as very learned, insulted these twice-born (Brāhmaṇas), and spurned their request made in the interest of the public good, the Brāhmaṇas got angry with him.

31. “Let him be slain; let this wicked fellow of terrible nature be killed. If he lives (any longer), he will soon reduce the world to ashes.

32. This shameless fellow vilifies Viṣṇu, the Supreme Deity of Sacrifices. This man of wicked conduct does not deserve the exalted seat of a monarch.

33. Or who else other than this base unlucky Vena alone, will revile Viṣṇu after attaining to such sovereignty over world through His grace.”

34. With their rage flared up, the sages who thus decided to slay him, killed by their hissing (huṃ) sound, Vena who was already dead by his vilification of god Viṣṇu (Acyuta).

35. When the sages departed to their hermitages, Sunīthā who was full of grief, preserved the dead body of her son by means of incantations (mantras) and medicines.

36. Once upon a time, those sages, having performed ablutions in the Sarasvatī, and after offering oblations to the sacrificial fire, were sitting on the bank of the river, talking about the stories of the Lord.

37. Observing the appearance of terrible ill omens striking terror into the world, they (wishfully) said: “May no evil befall the protectionless earth from robbers”.

38. While sages were thinking thus, there arose in all directions clouds of dust from the rushing of the thieves and miscreants who ran amuck plundering (wherever they went).

39. They came to know that the serious trouble to the world was caused by those free booters who plundered the wealth of the people, and by those who tried to kill each other, as the king (Vena) was dead.

40. When anarchy prevails, the state becomes weak and the country is infested with robbers. Though they (sages) were powerful enough to control, they did not check the people as they saw the evil (involved therein).

41. “Even if a Brāhmaṇa who should view all beings equally and should be tranquil, neglects (to protect) the afflicted, his penance leaks away like water filled in a pot with a hole.

42. The race of the royal sage Aṅga should not come to an end, as it is in this family that there were many kings of unfailing prowess, yet completely dependent on Keśava (Viṣṇu)”.

43. Having resolved thus, the sages churned forcibly the thigh of the deceased king. Therefrom appeared a dwarfish man.

44. He was black as crow, had very short limbs and small arms, protruding chin, short legs, flat nose and blood- red eyes and red hair.

45. To him who bowed to them, and meekly asked them, “What I should do”, they asked him to sit down (niṣīda). Therefore, Oh Vidura, he became niṣāda (by tribe).

46. As soon as he was born, he took upon himself the heinous sins of Vena. His descendants the naiṣādas took refuge in mountains, jungles, etc.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Bhāgavata Candrikā: The Lord controls all worlds, their presiding deities and sacrifices which lead to the attainment of godhood. He is the embodiment of three Vedas which explain what is and is not the righteous duty (dharma). The Vedas prescribe both the ways of sacrifices and of penance. It is for the sake of your Liberation or prosperity that the inhabitants of your country perform different kinds of sacrifices. You should therefore follow their example.

Siddhāntapradīpa: You should direct the inhabitants of your country to perform their respective duties—the inhabitants who according to their abilities of the pravṛtti and nivṛtti type, worship the Lord who protects all the worlds, gods and sacrifices, and who is the embodiment of three Vedas which give the knowledge of sacrifice, and who is the sacrificial materials and the penance, the knowledge leading to Liberation. It is thus that you will get prosperity here and Liberation hereafter.

[2]:

svadeśān: (i) The persons whom you command—the sacrificers. Bhāgavata Candrikā (ii) The Brāhmaṇas on whom donations or gifts are conferred.—Padaratnāvalī