॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 7 November 2022 IV.14 - Vena's end.
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The sages, headed by Sage Brigu, saw that in the absence of King Anga there was no one to protect the interests of the people. They understood that without a ruler the people would become lawless and act scot-free.
In consultation with Queen Sunitha, they decided to make Vena the king, despite dissent from the ministers.
Vena was known to be evil and was sure to be a terrible despot. Sage Vyasa says all the rogues and thieves went into hiding when he became the king, much like rats run into their holes from the fear of a terrible cobra newly arrived.
Vena turned out to be most arrogant, violent and irreverent to all, especially the sages. When King Vena mounted a chariot and, like an uncontrolled elephant, began to travel through the kingdom, he caused the sky and earth to tremble wherever he went. He forbade any Yajnas or worship of any gods in his kingdom. This is something we can relate to in our current regime of sickularism.
When the great sages consulted one another, they saw that the people were in a dangerous position either way, with or without Vena. When a fire blazes on both ends of a log, the ants in the middle are in a very dangerous situation. Similarly, at that time the populace was in a dangerous position due to an irresponsible king on one side and thieves and rogues on the other.
The sages realised that making Vena the king to avert anarchy was a miscalculated move. There was one last chance they would give him by offering wise counsel. If he did not mend his ways, they would have to destroy him with their spiritual power.
The great sages, having thus decided, approached King Vena. Concealing their real anger, they pacified him with sweet words and then spoke as follows.
धर्म आचरित: पुंसां वाङ्मन:कायबुद्धिभि: । लोकान् विशोकान् वतरत्यथानन्त्यमसङ्गिनाम् ॥
राजन्नसाध्वमात्येभ्यश्चोरादिभ्य: प्रजा नृप: । रक्षन्यथा बलिं गृह्णन्निह प्रेत्य च मोदते ॥
T: "Oh, King, Please consider what we now tell you, because it will extend your glory and prosperity. Those who live according to Dharma in their words, mind, body, and intellect are elevated to a heavenly state beyond all misery. Being thus rid of material bondage, they achieve unlimited happiness in life."
"There is also the aspect of good rulership. When the king protects his citizens from troubles arising from any quarter - mischievous ministers, thieves, and rogues, he becomes entitled by his Dharma to collect taxes."
"The King should be a role model for observing Dharma and set an example for people to worship the Supreme Being, Bhagavan, with faith. When He is satisfied, nothing is impossible to achieve. That is why gods and all creation offer their worship to Him. He is to be propitiated through Yajnas as He embodies the three Vedas, is the Supreme Lord and is the ultimate goal of all Tapas. So you and your populace should engage diligently and faithfully in the performance of Yajnas."
Vena's reply was both brusque and scandalous.
वेन उवाच
बालिशा बत यूयं वा अधर्मे धर्ममानिन: । ये वृत्तिदं पतिं हित्वा जारं पतिमुपासते ॥
T:" Oh, you childish fools, what you think is Dharma is indeed Adharma. You are all like adulterous women. Don't you know that all the gods from Vishnu, Brahma, and Rudra downwards reside in the King, and the King is the supremely worshippable one? If you don't worship the King, what good can the gods do to you here and in the hereafter?"
तस्मान्मां कर्मभिर्विप्रा यजध्वं गतमत्सरा: । बलिं च मह्यं हरत मत्तोऽन्य: कोऽग्रभुक्पुमान् ॥
T: "For this reason, oh, Brahmins, worship me, giving up your jealousy! Who better can be than me to accept your Yajna offerings!!!!?"
All the sages had only one thought. "This impious, impudent man does not deserve to sit on the throne at all. He is so shameless that he even dared insult Bhagavan Vishnu."
They all decided to destroy Vena that instant. Sage Vyasa says that Vena, blaspheming the Lord, was already as good as dead. In an instant, the sages' anger killed him.
Queen Sunitha could not reconcile with her son's death (This reminds me of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra).
She carefully preserved Vena's dead body.
While the sages went back to their daily ablutions and prayers and Yajnas, the country became covered by a veritable storm of thieving and looting, and there was plunder everywhere. The lawless state was a hotbed of plunder and chaos. The sages were reluctant to deploy their powers again to subdue the disturbances. Yet, their concern for the country's welfare was transparent. They thought aloud:
ब्राह्मण: समदृक् शान्तो दीनानां समुपेक्षक: । स्रवते ब्रह्म तस्यापि भिन्नभाण्डात्पयो यथा ॥
T: " A Brahmin (literally a Dharmic spiritual seeker) may be equanimous and peaceful, treating all people the same. Yet, it is his bounden duty also to protect the weak without ignoring their problems. Otherwise, his spiritual attainment will wither away like milk runs out of a leaky pot."
The sages wanted somehow to continue King Anga's lineage. After all, the potential for good was great in that line. So they went to the dead body of Vena (as Vena had carried Anga's seed) which had been so far preserved by Queen Sunitha.
The sages began to churn (doing a kind of twisty massage) the thighs of Vena's corpse. Shortly, an ugly dwarf was created! He was Bahuka, black, with short limbs, a large jaw, a snub nose, reddish in body with copper-coloured hair. You can imagine what a creature he was.
The dwarf asked respectfully, "Sages. what is your bidding?"
They replied, a bit confused, "Sit down! (निषीद!)"
Bahuka became the progenitor of Nishadas (निषाद), or hunters and dacoits. He went on a rampage like Vena and was banished to the forest, where even now, Nishadas dwell.
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