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Chapter 13: Description of

the Descendants of

Dhruva Mahäräja

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The Lord appears as a The Lord appears as a descendant of Dhruva descendant of Dhruva

Mahäräja (13.1-20)Mahäräja (13.1-20) Hearing Maitreya Åñi describe how Närada

glorified the transcendental qualities of Dhruva Mahäräja in a meeting of the Pracetäs, Vidura inquired from Maitreya further about the Pracetäs. He also inquired how Närada Muni glorified the Supreme in that meeting. Maitreya explained, when Mahäräja Dhruva left for the forest; his son, Utkala, completely unattached to the world from birth; did not desire to rule the planet. (Contd)

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The Lord appears as a descendant of Dhruva

Mahäräja (Contd) Thus the family elders and ministers, Thus the family elders and ministers,

considering him mad, posted his younger considering him mad, posted his younger brother, Vatsara, as king. Maitreya Åñi then brother, Vatsara, as king. Maitreya Åñi then describes the descendents of King Vatsara and describes the descendents of King Vatsara and his wife, Svarvéthi, up to King Aìga. The wife of his wife, Svarvéthi, up to King Aìga. The wife of King Aìga, Sunéthä, gave birth to a very crooked King Aìga, Sunéthä, gave birth to a very crooked son named Vena. The saintly King Aìga, son named Vena. The saintly King Aìga, disappointed with Vena's bad character, left disappointed with Vena's bad character, left home and kingdom for the forest. home and kingdom for the forest. (Contd)(Contd)

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The Lord appears as a The Lord appears as a descendant of Dhruva descendant of Dhruva

Mahäräja (Contd)Mahäräja (Contd) Out of anger great sages cursed King

Vena to die. With no king, all the rogues and thieves flourished, and all the citizens suffered greatly. Thus the great sages churned Vena’s body and as a result, Lord Viñëu in His partial representation advented as King Påthu, the original emperor of the world. (Contd)

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King Vena, Mahäräja King Vena, Mahäräja Aìga’s irreligious son Aìga’s irreligious son

(13.21-49)(13.21-49) Vidura inquired how King Aìga who was a

saintly personality got a son, Vena, who was so bad he left his kingdom for the forest. He also asked why the great sages cursed Vena, although the king is usually respected. Maitreya explained that once King Aìga performed the great horse sacrifice, called açvamedha, but no demigods appeared in that sacrifice.

(Contd)77

King Vena, Mahäräja King Vena, Mahäräja Aìga’s irreligious son Aìga’s irreligious son

(Contd)(Contd) The priests informed King Aìga that due

to sinful activities of his past life the demigods are not participating and also he was sonless. The priests advised him to pray to the Lord for a son and execute the sacrifice for that purpose, and when the Lord appears, all the demigods will come with Him and take their shares in the sacrifice. (Contd)

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King Vena, Mahäräja King Vena, Mahäräja Aìga’s irreligious son Aìga’s irreligious son

(Contd)(Contd) Thus the priests offered oblations to Lord Thus the priests offered oblations to Lord Viñëu, and a person appeared from the fire Viñëu, and a person appeared from the fire carrying a golden pot filled with rice boiled carrying a golden pot filled with rice boiled in milk. The King took the preparation and in milk. The King took the preparation and offered a portion to his wife. After eating offered a portion to his wife. After eating that food the Queen became pregnant by that food the Queen became pregnant by her husband, and gave birth to a son. That her husband, and gave birth to a son. That boy’s grandfather was death personified, boy’s grandfather was death personified, and thus he became a greatly irreligious and thus he became a greatly irreligious person.person. (Contd) (Contd)

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King Vena, Mahäräja King Vena, Mahäräja Aìga’s irreligious son Aìga’s irreligious son

(Contd)(Contd) The boy was so cruel that while The boy was so cruel that while

playing with young boys of his age playing with young boys of his age he would kill them. Thus Aìga he would kill them. Thus Aìga became greatly aggrieved. At first became greatly aggrieved. At first he lamented having a bad son, but he lamented having a bad son, but ultimately he considered it God’s ultimately he considered it God’s plan to detach him from household plan to detach him from household life, and without telling anyone he life, and without telling anyone he left for the forest.left for the forest.

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Chapter 14: The Chapter 14: The Story of King Story of King

VenaVena

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The sages install and The sages install and later kill cruel Vena as later kill cruel Vena as

King (14.1-35)King (14.1-35) The great sages saw that in the absence of King

Aìga, the people would become unregulated. Thus they installed Vena on the throne, although all the ministers disagreed. Vena was known to be very severe and cruel; therefore, all the thieves and rogues in the state hid themselves. Upon ascent to the throne, Vena became too proud. Thinking himself to be greater than anyone, he began to insult great personalities. King Vena forbade brähmaëas to perform all kinds of religious rituals. (Contd)

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The sages install and The sages install and later kill cruel Vena as later kill cruel Vena as

King (Contd)King (Contd) The sages considered that Vena had became

the citizens’ enemy. The sages advised Vena to engages the citizens in following the system of varëa and äçrama, and in acts of sacrifice to please the Lord.

King Vena retorted that all the demigods, King Vena retorted that all the demigods, including Lord Viñëu, abide in the body of the including Lord Viñëu, abide in the body of the king, and therefore the king alone is to be king, and therefore the king alone is to be worshiped. Vena requested the sages to worshiped. Vena requested the sages to abandon their envy of him and to worship him abandon their envy of him and to worship him with all paraphernalia. with all paraphernalia. (Contd)(Contd)

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The sages install and The sages install and later kill cruel Vena as later kill cruel Vena as

King (Contd)King (Contd) The sages became very angry at him for The sages became very angry at him for his blaspheme of the Supreme his blaspheme of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus without Personality of Godhead. Thus without using any weapons, the sages killed using any weapons, the sages killed King Vena simply by high-sounding King Vena simply by high-sounding words. King Vena’s mother, Sunéthä, words. King Vena’s mother, Sunéthä, aggrieved because of her son’s death, aggrieved because of her son’s death, preserved the dead body of her son by preserved the dead body of her son by applying certain ingredients and by applying certain ingredients and by chanting mantras.chanting mantras.

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Discussion PointsDiscussion PointsSP’s Mood & Mission (M&M)SP’s Mood & Mission (M&M) The relevance for ISKCON of Prabhupäda’s The relevance for ISKCON of Prabhupäda’s

statements, concerning a demoniac government, from statements, concerning a demoniac government, from the example Mahäräjas Vena. (the example Mahäräjas Vena. (14.7-12, 31, 37, 39-41))

Even sinful men (Kirätas) can be elevated to the Even sinful men (Kirätas) can be elevated to the topmost Vaiñëava platform (14.46)topmost Vaiñëava platform (14.46)

Personal Application (PeA)Personal Application (PeA) Utkala’s realization & behavior (13.6-11) Utkala’s realization & behavior (13.6-11) General principles from King Aìga’s detachment General principles from King Aìga’s detachment

from family life (13.39, 46-47; Group discussion from family life (13.39, 46-47; Group discussion topic)topic)

Preaching Application (PrA)Preaching Application (PrA) Significance of producing Prthu Mahäräja’s body from

the thighs of Mahäräja Vena (14.43)