Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4: “The Creation of the Fourth Order”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Fourteen
SB4.14.20
TEXT 20
tasmims tuste kim aprapyam
jagatam isvaresvare
lokah sapala hy etasmai
haranti balim adrtah
SYNONYMS
tasmin—when He; tuste—is satisfied; kim—what; aprapyam—impossible to achieve; jagatam—of the universe; isvara-isvare—the controller of the controllers; lokah—the inhabitants of the planets; sapalah—with their presiding deities; hi—for this reason; etasmai—unto Him; haranti—offer; balim—paraphernalia for worship; adrtah—with great pleasure.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped by the great demigods, controllers of universal affairs. When He is satisfied, nothing is impossible to achieve. For this reason all the demigods, presiding deities of different planets, as well as the inhabitants of their planets, take great pleasure in offering all kinds of paraphernalia for His worship.
PURPORT
All Vedic civilization is summarized in this verse: all living entities, either on this planet or on other planets, have to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by their respective duties. When He is satisfied, all necessities of life are automatically supplied. In the Vedas it is also stated: eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). From the Vedas we understand that He is supplying everyone’s necessities, and we can actually see that the lower animals, the birds and the bees, have no business or profession, yet they are not dying for want of food. They are all living in nature’s way, and they all have the necessities of life provided—namely eating, sleeping, mating and defending.
Human society, however, has artificially created a type of civilization which makes one forgetful of his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Modern society even enables one to forget the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s grace and mercy. Consequently modern civilized man is always unhappy and in need of things. People do not know that the ultimate goal of life is to approach Lord Visnu and satisfy Him. They have taken this materialistic way of life as everything and have become captivated by materialistic activities. Indeed, their leaders are always encouraging them to follow this path, and the general populace, being ignorant of the laws of God, are following their blind leaders down the path of unhappiness. In order to rectify this world situation, all people should be trained in Krsna consciousness and act in accordance with the varnasrama system. The state should also see that the people are engaged in satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is the primary duty of the state. The Krsna consciousness movement was started to convince the general populace to adopt the best process by which to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus solve all problems. SB4.14.21 TEXT 21 tam sarva-lokamara-yajna-sangraham trayimayam dravyamayam tapomayam yajnair vicitrair yajato bhavaya te rajan sva-desan anuroddhum arhasi SYNONYMS tam—Him; sarva-loka—in all planets; amara—with the predominating deities; yajna—sacrifices; sangraham—who accepts; trayi-mayam—the sum total of the three Vedas; dravya-mayam—the owner of all paraphernalia; tapah-mayam—the goal of all austerity; yajnaih—by sacrifices; vicitraih—various; yajatah—worshiping; bhavaya—for elevation; te—your; rajan—O King; sva-desan—your countrymen; anuroddhum—to direct; arhasi—you ought. TRANSLATION Dear King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with the predominating deities, is the enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices in all planets. The Supreme Lord is the sum total of the three Vedas, the owner of everything, and the ultimate goal of all austerity. Therefore your countrymen should engage in performing various sacrifices for your elevation. Indeed, you should always direct them towards the offering of sacrifices. SB4.14.22 TEXT 22 yajnena yusmad-visaye dvijatibhir vitayamanena surah kala hareh svistah sutustah pradisanti vanchitam tad-dhelanam narhasi vira cestitum SYNONYMS yajnena—by sacrifice; yusmat—your; visaye—in the kingdom; dvijatibhih—by the brahmanas; vitayamanena—being performed; surah—all the demigods; kalah—expansions; hareh—of the Personality of Godhead; su-istah—being properly worshiped; su-tustah—very much satisfied; pradisanti—will give; vanchitam—desired result; tat-helanam—disrespect to them; na—not; arhasi—you ought; vira—O hero; cestitum—to do. TRANSLATION When all the brahmanas engage in performing sacrifices in your kingdom, all the demigods, who are plenary expansions of the Lord, will be very much satisfied by their activities and will give you your desired result. Therefore, O hero, do not stop the sacrificial performances. If you stop them, you will disrespect the demigods. SB4.14.23 TEXT 23 vena uvaca balisa bata yuyam va adharme dharma-maninah ye vrttidam patim hitva jaram patim upasate SYNONYMS venah—King Vena; uvaca—replied; balisah—childish; bata—oh; yuyam—all of you; va—indeed; adharme—in irreligious principles; dharma-maninah—accepting as religious; ye—all of you who; vrttidam—providing maintenance; patim—husband; hitva—giving up; jaram—paramour; patim—husband; upasate—worship. TRANSLATION King Vena replied: You are not at all experienced. It is very much regrettable that you are maintaining something which is not religious and are accepting it as religious. Indeed, I think you are giving up your real husband, who maintains you, and are searching after some paramour to worship. PURPORT King Vena was so foolish that he accused the saintly sages of being inexperienced like small children. In other words, he was accusing them of not having perfect knowledge. In this way he could reject their advice and make accusations against them, comparing them to a woman who does not care for her husband who maintains her but goes to satisfy a paramour who does not maintain her. The purpose of this simile is apparent. It is the duty of the ksatriyas to engage the brahmanas in different types of religious activities, and the king is supposed to be the maintainer of the brahmanas. If the brahmanas do not worship the king but instead go to the demigods, they are as polluted as unchaste women. SB4.14.24 TEXT 24 avajananty ami mudha nrpa-rupinam isvaram nanuvindanti te bhadram iha loke paratra ca SYNONYMS avajananti—disrespect; ami—those (who); mudhah—being ignorant; nrpa-rupinam—in the form of the king; isvaram—the Personality of Godhead; na—not; anuvindanti—experience; te—they; bhadram—happiness; iha—in this; loke—world; paratra—after death; ca—also. TRANSLATION Those who, out of gross ignorance, do not worship the king, who is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead, experience happiness neither in this world nor in the world after death. SB4.14.25 TEXT 25 ko yajna-puruso nama yatra vo bhaktir idrsi bhartr-sneha-viduranam yatha jare kuyositam SYNONYMS kah—who (is); yajna-purusah—the enjoyer of all sacrifices; nama—by name; yatra—unto whom; vah—your; bhaktih—devotional service; idrsi—so great; bhartr—for the husband; sneha—affection; viduranam—bereft of; yatha—like; jare—unto the paramour; ku-yositam—of unchaste women. TRANSLATION You are so much devoted to the demigods, but who are they? Indeed, your affection for these demigods is exactly like the affection of an unchaste woman who neglects her married life and gives all attention to her paramour. SB4.14.26-27 TEXTS 26–27 visnur virinco girisa indro vayur yamo ravih parjanyo dhanadah somah ksitir agnir apampatih ete canye ca vibudhah prabhavo vara-sapayoh dehe bhavanti nrpateh sarva-devamayo nrpah SYNONYMS visnuh—Lord Visnu; virincah—Lord Brahma; girisah—Lord Siva; indrah—Lord Indra; vayuh—Vayu, the director of the air; yamah—Yama, the superintendent of death; ravih—the sun-god; parjanyah—the director of rainfall; dhana-dah—Kuvera, the treasurer; somah—the moon-god; ksitih—the predominating deity of the earth; agnih—the fire-god; apam-patih—Varuna, the lord of waters; ete—all these; ca—and; anye—others; ca—also; vibudhah—demigods; prabhavah—competent; vara-sapayoh—in both benediction and curse; dehe—in the body; bhavanti—abide; nrpateh—of the king; sarva-devamayah—comprising all demigods; nrpah—the king. TRANSLATION Lord Visnu; Lord Brahma; Lord Siva; Lord Indra; Vayu, the master of air; Yama, the superintendent of death; the sun-god; the director of rainfall; Kuvera, the treasurer; the moon-god; the predominating deity of the earth; Agni, the fire-god; Varuna, the lord of waters, and all others who are great and competent to bestow benedictions or to curse, all abide in the body of the king. For this reason the king is known as the reservoir of all demigods, who are simply parts and parcels of the king’s body. PURPORT There are many demons who think of themselves as the Supreme and present themselves as the directors of the sun, moon and other planets. This is all due to false pride. Similarly, King Vena developed the demonic mentality and presented himself as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such demons are numerous in this age of Kali, and all of them are condemned by great sages and saintly persons. SB4.14.28 TEXT 28 tasman mam karmabhir vipra yajadhvam gata-matsarah balim ca mahyam harata matto ’nyah ko ’gra-bhuk puman SYNONYMS tasmat—for this reason; mam—me; karmabhih—by ritualistic activities; viprah—O brahmanas; yajadhvam—worship; gata—without; matsarah—being envious; balim—paraphernalia for worship; ca—also; mahyam—unto me; harata—bring; mattah—than me; anyah—other; kah—who (is); agra-bhuk—the enjoyer of the first oblations; puman—personality. TRANSLATION King Vena continued: For this reason, O brahmanas, you should abandon your envy of me, and, by your ritualistic activities, you should worship me and offer me all paraphernalia. If you are intelligent, you should know that there is no personality superior to me, who can accept the first oblations of all sacrifices. PURPORT As stated by Krsna Himself throughout Bhagavad-gita, there is no truth superior to Him. King Vena was imitating the Supreme Personality of Godhead and was also speaking out of false pride, presenting himself as the Supreme Lord. These are all characteristics of a demonic person. SB4.14.29 TEXT 29 maitreya uvaca ittham viparyaya-matih papiyan utpatham gatah anuniyamanas tad-yacnam na cakre bhrasta-mangalah SYNONYMS maitreyah uvaca—Maitreya said; ittham—thus; viparyaya-matih—one who has developed perverse intelligence; papiyan—most sinful; utpatham—from the right path; gatah—having gone; anuniyamanah—being offered all respect; tat-yacnam—the request of the sages; na—not; cakre—accepted; bhrasta—bereft of; mangalah—all good fortune. TRANSLATION The great sage Maitreya continued: Thus the King, who became unintelligent due to his sinful life and deviation from the right path, became actually bereft of all good fortune. He could not accept the requests of the great sages, which the sages put before him with great respect, and therefore he was condemned. PURPORT The demons certainly cannot have any faith in the words of authorities. In fact, they are always disrespectful to authorities. They manufacture their own religious principles and disobey great personalities like Vyasa, Narada, and even the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. As soon as one disobeys authority, he immediately becomes very sinful and loses his good fortune. The King was so puffed up and impudent that he dared disrespect the great saintly personalities, and this brought him ruination. SB4.14.30 TEXT 30 iti te ’sat-krtas tena dvijah pandita-manina bhagnayam bhavya-yacnayam tasmai vidura cukrudhuh SYNONYMS iti—thus; te—all the great sages; asat-krtah—being insulted; tena—by the King; dvijah—the brahmanas; pandita-manina—thinking himself to be very learned; bhagnayam—being broken; bhavya—auspicious; yacnayam—their request; tasmai—at him; vidura—O Vidura; cukrudhuh—became very angry. TRANSLATION My dear Vidura, all good fortune unto you. The foolish King, who thought himself very learned, thus insulted the great sages, and the sages, being brokenhearted by the King’s words, became very angry at him. SB4.14.31 TEXT 31 hanyatam hanyatam esa papah prakrti-darunah jivan jagad asav asu kurute bhasmasad dhruvam SYNONYMS hanyatam—kill him; hanyatam—kill him; esah—this king; papah—representative of sin; prakrti—by nature; darunah—most dreadful; jivan—while living; jagat—the whole world; asau—he; asu—very soon; kurute—will make; bhasmasat—into ashes; dhruvam—certainly. TRANSLATION All the great saintly sages immediately cried: Kill him! Kill him! He is the most dreadful, sinful person. If he lives, he will certainly turn the whole world into ashes in no time. PURPORT Saintly persons are generally very kind to all kinds of living entities, but they are not unhappy when a serpent or a scorpion is killed. It is not good for saintly persons to kill, but they are encouraged to kill demons, who are exactly like serpents and scorpions. Therefore all the saintly sages decided to kill King Vena, who was so dreadful and dangerous to all human society. We can appreciate the extent to which the saintly sages actually controlled the king. If the king or government becomes demonic, it is the duty of a saintly person to upset the government and replace it with deserving persons who follow the orders and instructions of saintly persons. SB4.14.32 TEXT 32 nayam arhaty asad-vrtto naradeva-varasanam yo ’dhiyajna-patim visnum vinindaty anapatrapah SYNONYMS na—never; ayam—this man; arhati—deserves; asat-vrttah—full of impious activities; nara-deva—of the worldly king or worldly god; vara-asanam—the exalted throne; yah—he who; adhiyajna-patim—the master of all sacrifices; visnum—Lord Visnu; vinindati—insults; anapatrapah—shameless. TRANSLATION The saintly sages continued: This impious, impudent man does not deserve to sit on the throne at all. He is so shameless that he even dared insult the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu. PURPORT One should not at any time tolerate blasphemy and insults against Lord Visnu or His devotees. A devotee is generally very humble and meek, and he is reluctant to pick a quarrel with anyone. Nor does he envy anyone. However, a pure devotee immediately becomes fiery with anger when he sees that Lord Visnu or His devotee is insulted. This is the duty of a devotee. Although a devotee maintains an attitude of meekness and gentleness, it is a great fault on his part if he remains silent when the Lord or His devotee is blasphemed. SB4.14.33 TEXT 33 ko vainam paricaksita venam ekam rte ’subham prapta idrsam aisvaryam yad-anugraha-bhajanah SYNONYMS kah—who; va—indeed; enam—the Lord; paricaksita—would blaspheme; venam—King Vena; ekam—alone; rte—but for; asubham—inauspicious; praptah—having obtained; idrsam—like this; aisvaryam—opulence; yat—whose; anugraha—mercy; bhajanah—receiving. TRANSLATION But for King Vena, who is simply inauspicious, who would blaspheme the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose mercy one is awarded all kinds of fortune and opulence? PURPORT When human society individually or collectively becomes godless and blasphemes the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is certainly destined for ruination. Such a civilization invites all kinds of bad fortune due to not appreciating the mercy of the Lord. SB4.14.34 TEXT 34 ittham vyavasita hantum rsayo rudha-manyavah nijaghnur hunkrtair venam hatam acyuta-nindaya SYNONYMS ittham—thus; vyavasitah—decided; hantum—to kill; rsayah—the sages; rudha—manifested; manyavah—their anger; nijaghnuh—they killed; hum-krtaih—by angry words or by sounds of hum; venam—King Vena; hatam—dead; acyuta—against the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nindaya—by blasphemy. TRANSLATION The great sages, thus manifesting their covert anger, immediately decided to kill the King. King Vena was already as good as dead due to his blasphemy against the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus without using any weapons, the sages killed King Vena simply by high-sounding words. SB4.14.35 TEXT 35 rsibhih svasrama-padam gate putra-kalevaram sunitha palayam asa vidya-yogena socati SYNONYMS rsibhih—by the sages; sva-asrama-padam—to their own respective hermitages; gate—having returned; putra—of her son; kalevaram—the body; sunitha—Sunitha, the mother of King Vena; palayam asa—preserved; vidya-yogena—by mantra and ingredients; socati—while lamenting. TRANSLATION After all the sages returned to their respective hermitages, the mother of King Vena, Sunitha, became very much aggrieved because of her son’s death. She decided to preserve the dead body of her son by the application of certain ingredients and by chanting mantras [mantra-yogena]. SB4.14.36 TEXT 36 ekada munayas te tu sarasvat-salilaplutah hutvagnin sat-kathas cakrur upavistah sarit-tate SYNONYMS ekada—once upon a time; munayah—all those great saintly persons; te—they; tu—then; sarasvat—of the River Sarasvati; salila—in the water; aplutah—bathed; hutva—offering oblations; agnin—into the fires; sat-kathah—discussions about transcendental subject matters; cakruh—began to do; upavistah—sitting; sarit-tate—by the side of the river. TRANSLATION Once upon a time, the same saintly persons, after taking their bath in the River Sarasvati, began to perform their daily duties by offering oblations into the sacrificial fires. After this, sitting on the bank of the river, they began to talk about the transcendental person and His pastimes. SB4.14.37 TEXT 37 viksyotthitams tadotpatan ahur loka-bhayankaran apy abhadram anathaya dasyubhyo na bhaved bhuvah SYNONYMS viksya—having seen; utthitan—developed; tada—then; utpatan—disturbances; ahuh—they began to say; loka—in society; bhayam-karan—causing panic; api—whether; abhadram—misfortune; anathayah—having no ruler; dasyubhyah—from thieves and rogues; na—not; bhavet—may happen; bhuvah—of the world. TRANSLATION In those days there were various disturbances in the country that were creating a panic in society. Therefore all the sages began to talk amongst themselves: Since the King is dead and there is no protector in the world, misfortune may befall the people in general on account of rogues and thieves. PURPORT Whenever there is a disturbance in the state, or a panic situation, the property and lives of the citizens become unsafe. This is caused by the uprising of various thieves and rogues. At such a time it is to be understood that the ruler, or the government, is dead. All of these misfortunes happened due to the death of King Vena. Thus the saintly persons became very anxious for the safety of the people in general. The conclusion is that even though saintly persons have no business in political affairs, they are always compassionate upon the people in general. Thus even though they are always aloof from society, out of mercy and compassion they consider how the citizens can peacefully execute their rituals and follow the rules and regulations of varnasrama-dharma. That was the concern of these sages. In this age of Kali, everything is disturbed. Therefore saintly persons should take to the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, as recommended in the sastras: harer nama harer nama Both for spiritual and material prosperity, everyone should devotedly chant the Hare Krsna mantra. SB4.14.38 TEXT 38 evam mrsanta rsayo dhavatam sarvato-disam pamsuh samutthito bhuris coranam abhilumpatam SYNONYMS evam—thus; mrsantah—while considering; rsayah—the great saintly persons; dhavatam—running; sarvatah-disam—from all directions; pamsuh—dust; samutthitah—arose; bhurih—much; coranam—from thieves and rogues; abhilumpatam—engaged in plundering. TRANSLATION When the great sages were carrying on their discussion in this way, they saw a dust storm arising from all directions. This storm was caused by the running of thieves and rogues, who were engaged in plundering the citizens. PURPORT Thieves and rogues simply await some political upset in order to take the opportunity to plunder the people in general. To keep thieves and rogues inactive in their profession, a strong government is always required. SB4.14.39-40 TEXTS 39–40 tad upadravam ajnaya lokasya vasu lumpatam bhartary uparate tasminn anyonyam ca jighamsatam cora-prayam jana-padam hina-sattvam arajakam lokan navarayan chakta api tad-dosa-darsinah SYNONYMS tat—at that time; upadravam—the disturbance; ajnaya—understanding; lokasya—of the people in general; vasu—riches; lumpatam—by those who were plundering; bhartari—the protector; uparate—being dead; tasmin—King Vena; anyonyam—one another; ca—also; jigham-satam—desiring to kill; cora-prayam—full of thieves; jana-padam—the state; hina—bereft of; sattvam—regulation; arajakam—without a king; lokan—the thieves and rogues; na—not; avarayan—they subdued; saktah—able to do so; api—although; tat-dosa—the fault of that; darsinah—considering. TRANSLATION Upon seeing the dust storm, the saintly persons could understand that there were a great deal of irregularities due to the death of King Vena. Without government, the state was devoid of law and order, and consequently there was a great uprising of murderous thieves and rogues, who were plundering the riches of the people in general. Although the great sages could subdue the disturbance by their powers—just as they could kill the King—they considered it improper on their part to do so. Thus they did not attempt to stop the disturbance. PURPORT The saintly persons and great sages killed King Vena out of emergency, but they did not choose to take part in the government in order to subdue the uprising of thieves and rogues, which took place after the death of King Vena. It is not the duty of brahmanas and saintly persons to kill, although they may sometimes do so in the case of an emergency. They could kill all the thieves and rogues by the prowess of their mantras, but they thought it the duty of ksatriya kings to do so. Thus they reluctantly did not take part in the killing business. SB4.14.41 TEXT 41 brahmanah sama-drk santo dinanam samupeksakah sravate brahma tasyapi bhinna-bhandat payo yatha SYNONYMS brahmanah—a brahmana; sama-drk—equipoised; santah—peaceful; dinanam—the poor; samupeksakah—grossly neglecting; sravate—diminishes; brahma—spiritual power; tasya—his; api—certainly; bhinna-bhandat—from a cracked pot; payah—water; yatha—just as. TRANSLATION The great sages began to think that although a brahmana is peaceful and impartial because he is equal to everyone, it is still not his duty to neglect poor humans. By such neglect, a brahmana’s spiritual power diminishes, just as water kept in a cracked pot leaks out. PURPORT Brahmanas, the topmost section of human society, are mostly devotees. They are generally unaware of the happenings within the material world because they are always busy in their activities for spiritual advancement. Nonetheless, when there is a calamity in human society, they cannot remain impartial. If they do not do something to relieve the distressed condition of human society, it is said that due to such neglect their spiritual knowledge diminishes. Almost all the sages go to the Himalayas for their personal benefit, but Prahlada Maharaja said that he did not want liberation alone. He decided to wait until he was able to deliver all the fallen souls of the world. In their elevated condition, the brahmanas are called Vaisnavas. There are two types of brahmanas—namely, brahmana-pandita and brahmana-vaisnava. A qualified brahmana is naturally very learned, but when his learning is advanced in understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he becomes a brahmana-vaisnava. Unless one becomes a Vaisnava, one’s perfection of brahminical culture is incomplete. The saintly persons considered very wisely that although King Vena was very sinful, he was born in a family descending from Dhruva Maharaja. Therefore the semen in the family must be protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kesava. As such, the sages wanted to take some steps to relieve the situation. For want of a king, everything was being disturbed and turned topsy-turvy. SB4.14.42 TEXT 42 nangasya vamso rajarser esa samsthatum arhati amogha-virya hi nrpa vamse ’smin kesavasrayah SYNONYMS na—not; angasya—of King Anga; vamsah—family line; raja-rseh—of the saintly King; esah—this; samsthatum—to be stopped; arhati—ought; amogha—without sin, powerful; viryah—their semen; hi—because; nrpah—kings; vamse—in the family; asmin—this; kesava—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asrayah—under the shelter. TRANSLATION The sages decided that the descendants of the family of the saintly King Anga should not be stopped, for in this family the semen was very powerful and the children were prone to become devotees of the Lord. PURPORT The purity of hereditary succession is called amogha-virya. The pious seminal succession in the twice-born families of the brahmanas and ksatriyas especially, as well as in the families of vaisyas also, must be kept very pure by the observation of the purificatory processes beginning with garbhadhana-samskara, which is observed before conceiving a child. Unless this purificatory process is strictly observed, especially by the brahmanas, the family descendants become impure, and gradually sinful activities become visible in the family. Maharaja Anga was very pure because of the purification of semen in the family of Maharaja Dhruva. However, his semen became contaminated in association with his wife, Sunitha, who happened to be the daughter of death personified. Because of this polluted semen, King Vena was produced. This was a catastrophe in the family of Dhruva Maharaja. All the saintly persons and sages considered this point, and they decided to take action in this matter, as described in the following verses. SB4.14.43 TEXT 43 viniscityaivam rsayo vipannasya mahipateh mamanthur urum tarasa tatrasid bahuko narah SYNONYMS viniscitya—deciding; evam—thus; rsayah—the great sages; vipannasya—dead; mahi-pateh—of the King; mamanthuh—churned; urum—the thighs; tarasa—with specific power; tatra—thereupon; asit—was born; bahukah—of the name Bahuka (dwarf); narah—a person. TRANSLATION After making a decision, the saintly persons and sages churned the thighs of the dead body of King Vena with great force and according to a specific method. As a result of this churning, a dwarf-like person was born from King Vena’s body. PURPORT That a person was born by the churning of the thighs of King Vena proves that the spirit soul is individual and separate from the body. The great sages and saintly persons could beget another person from the body of the dead King Vena, but it was not possible for them to bring King Vena back to life. King Vena was gone, and certainly he had taken another body. The saintly persons and sages were only concerned with the body of Vena because it was a result of the seminal succession in the family of Maharaja Dhruva. Consequently, the ingredients by which another body could be produced were there in the body of King Vena. By a certain process, when the thighs of the dead body were churned, another body came out. Although dead, the body of King Vena was preserved by drugs, and mantras chanted by King Vena’s mother. In this way the ingredients for the production of another body were there. When the body of the person named Bahuka came out of the dead body of King Vena, it was really not very astonishing. It was simply a question of knowing how to do it. From the semen of one body, another body is produced, and the life symptoms are visible due to the soul’s taking shelter of this body. One should not think that it was impossible for another body to come out of the dead body of Maharaja Vena. This was performed by the skillful action of the sages. SB4.14.44 TEXT 44 kaka-krsno ’tihrasvango hrasva-bahur maha-hanuh hrasva-pan nimna-nasagro raktaksas tamra-murdhajah SYNONYMS kaka-krsnah—as black as a crow; ati-hrasva—very short; angah—his limbs; hrasva—short; bahuh—his arms; maha—big; hanuh—his jaws; hrasva—short; pat—his legs; nimna—flat; nasa-agrah—the tip of his nose; rakta—reddish; aksah—his eyes; tamra—copperlike; murdha-jah—his hair. TRANSLATION This person born from King Vena’s thighs was named Bahuka, and his complexion was as black as a crow’s. All the limbs of his body were very short, his arms and legs were short, and his jaws were large. His nose was flat, his eyes were reddish, and his hair copper-colored. SB4.14.45 TEXT 45 tam tu te ’vanatam dinam kim karomiti vadinam nisidety abruvams tata sa nisadas tato ’bhavat SYNONYMS tam—unto him; tu—then; te—the sages; avanatam—bowed down; dinam—meek; kim—what; karomi—shall I do; iti—thus; vadinam—inquiring; nisida—just sit down; iti—thus; abruvan—they replied; tata—my dear Vidura; sah—he; nisadah—of the name Nisada; tatah—thereafter; abhavat—became. TRANSLATION He was very submissive and meek, and immediately after his birth he bowed down and inquired, “Sirs, what shall I do?” The great sages replied, “Please sit down [nisida].” Thus Nisada, the father of the Naisada race, was born. PURPORT It is said in the sastras that the head of the body represents the brahmanas, the arms represent the ksatriyas, the abdomen represents the vaisyas, and the legs, beginning with the thighs, represent the sudras. The sudras are sometimes called black, or krsna. The brahmanas are called sukla, or white, and the ksatriyas and the vaisyas are a mixture of black and white. However, those who are extraordinarily white are said to have skin produced out of white leprosy. It may be concluded that white or a golden hue is the color of the higher caste, and black is the complexion of the sudras. SB4.14.46 TEXT 46 tasya vamsyas tu naisada giri-kanana-gocarah yenaharaj jayamano vena-kalmasam ulbanam SYNONYMS tasya—his (Nisada’s); vamsyah—descendants; tu—then; naisadah—called Naisadas; giri-kanana—the hills and forests; gocarah—inhabiting; yena—because; aharat—he took upon himself; jayamanah—being born; vena—of King Vena; kalmasam—all kinds of sin; ulbanam—very fearful. TRANSLATION After his [Nisada’s] birth, he immediately took charge of all the resultant actions of King Vena’s sinful activities. As such, this Naisada class are always engaged in sinful activities like stealing, plundering and hunting. Consequently they are only allowed to live in the hills and forests. PURPORT The Naisadas are not allowed to live in cities and towns because they are sinful by nature. As such, their bodies are very ugly, and their occupations are also sinful. We should, however, know that even these sinful men (who are sometimes called Kiratas) can be delivered from their sinful condition to the topmost Vaisnava platform by the mercy of a pure devotee. Engagement in the transcendental loving devotional service of the Lord can make anyone, however sinful he may be, fit to return home, back to Godhead. One has only to become free from all contamination by the process of devotional service. In this way everyone can become fit to return home, back to Godhead. This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (9.32): mam hi partha vyapasritya “O son of Prtha, those who take shelter of Me, though they be of lower birth—women, vaisyas [merchants], as well as sudras [workers]—can approach the supreme destination.” Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Story of King Vena.”
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te ’pi yanti param gatim