The Story of King Vena

Verse 1 (bhagavata.4.14.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच भृग्वादयस्ते मुनयो लोकानां क्षेमदर्शिनः । गोप्तर्यसति वै नृणां पश्यन्तः पशुसाम्यताम् ॥ 14.1 ॥

maitreya uvāca bhṛgv-ādayas te munayo lokānāṁ kṣema-darśinaḥ goptary asati vai nṝṇāṁ paśyantaḥ paśu-sāmyatām

Maitreya continued: The sages headed by Bhrigu, ever watchful for the welfare of the world, seeing that men, with no protector, had come to resemble mere beasts,

Verse 2 (bhagavata.4.14.2)

वीरमातरमाहूय सुनीथां ब्रह्मवादिनः । प्रकृत्यसम्मतं वेनमभ्यषिञ्चन् पतिं भुवः ॥ 14.2 ॥

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

summoned Sunitha, mother of the hero, and, in accordance with her wish, though against the counsel of the ministers, anointed Vena as lord of the earth.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.4.14.3)

श्रुत्वा नृपासनगतं वेनमत्युग्रशासनम् । निलिल्युर्दस्यवः सद्यः सर्पत्रस्ता इवाखवः ॥ 14.3 ॥

śrutvā nṛpāsana-gataṁ venam atyugra-śāsanam nililyur dasyavaḥ sadyaḥ sarpa-trastā ivākhavaḥ

Hearing that Vena, of such fierce and unbending rule, had ascended the royal seat, the bandits at once slunk away into hiding, like mice terrified of a serpent.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.4.14.4)

स आरूढनृपस्थान उन्नद्धोऽष्टविभूतिभिः । अवमेने महाभागान् स्तब्धः सम्भावितः स्वतः ॥ 14.4 ॥

sa ārūḍha-nṛpa-sthāna unnaddho ’ṣṭa-vibhūtibhiḥ avamene mahā-bhāgān stabdhaḥ sambhāvitaḥ svataḥ

Once seated on the royal throne, inflated with the eight kinds of opulence, he grew arrogant, and, puffed up by his own false esteem, began to disdain even the noblest of men.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.4.14.5)

एवं मदान्ध उत्सिक्तो निरङ्कुश इव द्विपः । पर्यटन् रथमास्थाय कम्पयन्निव रोदसी ॥ 14.5 ॥

evaṁ madāndha utsikto niraṅkuśa iva dvipaḥ paryaṭan ratham āsthāya kampayann iva rodasī

Thus blinded by pride and unchecked like a wild elephant, he would ride out upon his chariot, seeming almost to make heaven and earth tremble as he went.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.4.14.6)

न यष्टव्यं न दातव्यं न होतव्यं द्विजाः क्वचित् । इति न्यवारयद्धर्मं भेरीघोषेण सर्वशः ॥ 14.6 ॥

na yaṣṭavyaṁ na dātavyaṁ na hotavyaṁ dvijāḥ kvacit iti nyavārayad dharmaṁ bherī-ghoṣeṇa sarvaśaḥ

"No brahmana shall ever again perform sacrifice, nor give charity, nor offer oblation" — with this proclamation, sounded everywhere by the beat of drums, he brought all dharma to a halt.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.4.14.7)

वेनस्यावेक्ष्य मुनयो दुर्वृत्तस्य विचेष्टितम् । विमृश्य लोकव्यसनं कृपयोचुः स्म सत्रिणः ॥ 14.7 ॥

venasyāvekṣya munayo durvṛttasya viceṣṭitam vimṛśya loka-vyasanaṁ kṛpayocuḥ sma satriṇaḥ

Observing the conduct of that wicked Vena, and reflecting on the calamity thus falling upon the world, the sages, who were themselves engaged in that very sacrifice, spoke among themselves out of compassion.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.4.14.8)

अहो उभयतः प्राप्तं लोकस्य व्यसनं महत् । दारुण्युभयतो दीप्ते इव तस्करपालयोः ॥ 14.8 ॥

aho ubhayataḥ prāptaṁ lokasya vyasanaṁ mahat dāruṇy ubhayato dīpte iva taskara-pālayoḥ

"Alas, the people have fallen into a great danger from both sides at once — like ants upon a log burning at both its ends, between a thief and a guard."

Verse 9 (bhagavata.4.14.9)

अराजकभयादेष कृतो राजातदर्हणः । ततोऽप्यासीद्भयं त्वद्य कथं स्यात्स्वस्ति देहिनाम् ॥ 14.9 ॥

arājaka-bhayād eṣa kṛto rājātad-arhaṇaḥ tato ’py āsīd bhayaṁ tv adya kathaṁ syāt svasti dehinām

"It was fear of anarchy that made us crown one unfit to be king; and now from that very act has come this new fear — how, then, can the people find any peace?"

Verse 10 (bhagavata.4.14.10)

अहेरिव पयःपोषः पोषकस्याप्यनर्थभृत् । वेनः प्रकृत्यैव खलः सुनीथागर्भसम्भवः ॥ 14.10 ॥

aher iva payaḥ-poṣaḥ poṣakasyāpy anartha-bhṛt venaḥ prakṛtyaiva khalaḥ sunīthā-garbha-sambhavaḥ

"Vena, born of Sunitha's womb, is by his very nature wicked; supporting him is like nourishing a serpent with milk — a source only of harm even to its own protector."

Verse 11 (bhagavata.4.14.11)

निरूपितः प्रजापालः स जिघांसति वै प्रजाः । तथापि सान्त्वयेमामुं नास्मांस्तत्पातकं स्पृशेत् ॥ 14.11 ॥

nirūpitaḥ prajā-pālaḥ sa jighāṁsati vai prajāḥ tathāpi sāntvayemāmuṁ nāsmāṁs tat-pātakaṁ spṛśet

"We appointed him protector of the people, and now he seeks to destroy them; still, let us try to pacify him, that his sin may not touch us."

Verse 12 (bhagavata.4.14.12)

तद्विद्वद्भिरसद्वृत्तो वेनोऽस्माभिः कृतो नृपः । सान्त्वितो यदि नो वाचं न ग्रहीष्यत्यधर्मकृत् । लोकधिक्कारसन्दग्धं दहिष्यामः स्वतेजसा ॥ 14.12 ॥

tad-vidvadbhir asad-vṛtto veno ’smābhiḥ kṛto nṛpaḥ sāntvito yadi no vācaṁ na grahīṣyaty adharma-kṛt loka-dhikkāra-sandagdhaṁ dahiṣyāmaḥ sva-tejasā

"Knowing full well his evil conduct, we ourselves made Vena king; if, once counseled, this doer of unrighteousness will not heed our word, then, condemned already by the world's censure, we shall burn him with our own power."

Verse 13 (bhagavata.4.14.13)

एवमध्यवसायैनं मुनयो गूढमन्यवः । उपव्रज्याब्रुवन् वेनं सान्त्वयित्वा च सामभिः ॥ 14.13 ॥

evam adhyavasāyainaṁ munayo gūḍha-manyavaḥ upavrajyābruvan venaṁ sāntvayitvā ca sāmabhiḥ

Having thus resolved, the sages, concealing their true anger, approached Vena and, first soothing him with gentle words, spoke as follows.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.4.14.14)

मुनय ऊचुः नृपवर्य निबोधैतद्यत्ते विज्ञापयाम भोः । आयुःश्रीबलकीर्तीनां तव तात विवर्धनम् ॥ 14.14 ॥

munaya ūcuḥ nṛpa-varya nibodhaitad yat te vijñāpayāma bhoḥ āyuḥ-śrī-bala-kīrtīnāṁ tava tāta vivardhanam

The sages said: O foremost of kings, hear now what we would tell you — for by it, dear one, your life, your fortune, your strength and your fame shall all increase.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.4.14.15)

धर्म आचरितः पुंसां वाङ्मनःकायबुद्धिभिः । लोकान् विशोकान् वतरत्यथानन्त्यमसङ्गिनाम् ॥ 14.15 ॥

dharma ācaritaḥ puṁsāṁ vāṅ-manaḥ-kāya-buddhibhiḥ lokān viśokān vitaraty athānantyam asaṅginām

Dharma, practiced by men through word, mind, body and understanding, carries them to worlds free of sorrow and, for those unattached, even to the state beyond end.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.4.14.16)

स ते मा विनशेद्वीर प्रजानां क्षेमलक्षणः । यस्मिन् विनष्टे नृपतिरैश्वर्यादवरोहति ॥ 14.16 ॥

sa te mā vinaśed vīra prajānāṁ kṣema-lakṣaṇaḥ yasmin vinaṣṭe nṛpatir aiśvaryād avarohati

O hero, may that dharma, the very mark of the people's welfare, not be destroyed through you — for should it perish, the king himself falls from his very sovereignty.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.4.14.17)

राजन्नसाध्वमात्येभ्यश्चोरादिभ्यः प्रजा नृपः । रक्षन्यथा बलिं गृह्णन्निह प्रेत्य च मोदते ॥ 14.17 ॥

rājann asādhv-amātyebhyaś corādibhyaḥ prajā nṛpaḥ rakṣan yathā baliṁ gṛhṇann iha pretya ca modate

O King, one who protects the people from wicked ministers and from thieves, and thus rightfully accepts their tribute, finds joy both in this world and the next.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.4.14.18)

यस्य राष्ट्रे पुरे चैव भगवान् यज्ञपूरुषः । इज्यते स्वेन धर्मेण जनैर्वर्णाश्रमान्वितैः ॥ 14.18 ॥

yasya rāṣṭre pure caiva bhagavān yajña-pūruṣaḥ ijyate svena dharmeṇa janair varṇāśramānvitaiḥ

That king is truly fortunate in whose kingdom and cities Bhagavan, the Lord of sacrifice, is worshiped by the people, each according to the duty of their own varna and ashrama.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.4.14.19)

तस्य राज्ञो महाभाग भगवान् भूतभावनः । परितुष्यति विश्वात्मा तिष्ठतो निजशासने ॥ 14.19 ॥

tasya rājño mahā-bhāga bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ parituṣyati viśvātmā tiṣṭhato nija-śāsane

With that king, O most fortunate one, Bhagavan, the Self of all beings and their sustainer, is well pleased, so long as he remains within his own ordained duty.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.4.14.20)

तस्मिंस्तुष्टे किमप्राप्यं जगतामीश्वरेश्वरे । लोकाः सपाला ह्येतस्मै हरन्ति बलिमादृताः ॥ 14.20 ॥

tasmiṁs tuṣṭe kim aprāpyaṁ jagatām īśvareśvare lokāḥ sapālā hy etasmai haranti balim ādṛtāḥ

When He, the Lord of lords of the universe, is thus satisfied, what remains unattainable? The very guardians of the worlds, together with their realms, gladly bring Him their offerings.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.4.14.21)

तं सर्वलोकामरयज्ञसङ्ग्रहं त्रयीमयं द्रव्यमयं तपोमयम् । यज्ञैर्विचित्रैर्यजतो भवाय ते राजन् स्वदेशाननुरोद्धुमर्हसि ॥ 14.21 ॥

taṁ sarva-lokāmara-yajña-saṅgrahaṁ trayīmayaṁ dravyamayaṁ tapomayam yajñair vicitrair yajato bhavāya te rājan sva-deśān anuroddhum arhasi

For your own prosperity, O King, your countrymen should be permitted to worship, through varied sacrifices, that Lord who gathers unto Himself the offerings of all worlds and gods, who is the essence of the three Vedas, of all substance, and of all austerity.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.4.14.22)

यज्ञेन युष्मद्विषये द्विजातिभि- र्वितायमानेन सुराः कला हरेः । स्विष्टाः सुतुष्टाः प्रदिशन्ति वाञ्छितं तद्धेलनं नार्हसि वीर चेष्टितुम् ॥ 14.22 ॥

yajñena yuṣmad-viṣaye dvijātibhir vitāyamānena surāḥ kalā hareḥ sviṣṭāḥ sutuṣṭāḥ pradiśanti vāñchitaṁ tad-dhelanaṁ nārhasi vīra ceṣṭitum

When, in your realm, the twice-born spread forth their sacrifices, the gods, portions of Hari, being well worshiped and well satisfied, grant whatever is desired — do not, O hero, act so as to slight this.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.4.14.23)

वेन उवाच बालिशा बत यूयं वा अधर्मे धर्ममानिनः । ये वृत्तिदं पतिं हित्वा जारं पतिमुपासते ॥ 14.23 ॥

vena uvāca bāliśā bata yūyaṁ vā adharme dharma-māninaḥ ye vṛttidaṁ patiṁ hitvā jāraṁ patim upāsate

Vena replied: How truly foolish you are, mistaking irreligion itself for religion — you who, abandoning the very husband who sustains you, go and worship a paramour instead!

Verse 24 (bhagavata.4.14.24)

अवजानन्त्यमी मूढा नृपरूपिणमीश्वरम् । नानुविन्दन्ति ते भद्रमिह लोके परत्र च ॥ 14.24 ॥

avajānanty amī mūḍhā nṛpa-rūpiṇam īśvaram nānuvindanti te bhadram iha loke paratra ca

These foolish men disdain the Lord Himself present in the form of a king, and thereby find no good, neither in this world nor in the next.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.4.14.25)

को यज्ञपुरुषो नाम यत्र वो भक्तिरीदृशी । भर्तृस्नेहविदूराणां यथा जारे कुयोषिताम् ॥ 14.25 ॥

ko yajña-puruṣo nāma yatra vo bhaktir īdṛśī bhartṛ-sneha-vidūrāṇāṁ yathā jāre kuyoṣitām

Who indeed is this "Lord of sacrifice" toward whom your devotion runs so strong — devotion like that of an unfaithful wife, estranged from love of her own husband, toward her paramour?

Verse 26 (bhagavata.4.14.26)

विष्णुर्विरिञ्चो गिरिश इन्द्रो वायुर्यमो रविः । पर्जन्यो धनदः सोमः क्षितिरग्निरपाम्पतिः ॥ 14.26 ॥

viṣṇur viriñco giriśa indro vāyur yamo raviḥ parjanyo dhanadaḥ somaḥ kṣitir agnir apāmpatiḥ

Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, Indra, Vayu, Yama, Surya, Parjanya, Kuvera, Soma, the earth, Agni, Varuna —

Verse 27 (bhagavata.4.14.27)

एते चान्ये च विबुधाः प्रभवो वरशापयोः । देहे भवन्ति नृपतेः सर्वदेवमयो नृपः ॥ 14.27 ॥

ete cānye ca vibudhāḥ prabhavo vara-śāpayoḥ dehe bhavanti nṛpateḥ sarva-devamayo nṛpaḥ

and other gods, together with all others empowered to bless or to curse, dwell within the body of the king — thus the king is himself composed of all the gods.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.4.14.28)

तस्मान्मां कर्मभिर्विप्रा यजध्वं गतमत्सराः । बलिं च मह्यं हरत मत्तोऽन्यः कोऽग्रभुक्पुमान् ॥ 14.28 ॥

tasmān māṁ karmabhir viprā yajadhvaṁ gata-matsarāḥ baliṁ ca mahyaṁ harata matto ’nyaḥ ko ’gra-bhuk pumān

Therefore, O brahmanas, cast aside your envy of me and worship me through your rites; bring your offerings to me alone — who else is there greater than I to receive the first portion?

Verse 29 (bhagavata.4.14.29)

मैत्रेय उवाच इत्थं विपर्ययमतिः पापीयानुत्पथं गतः । अनुनीयमानस्तद्याच्ञां न चक्रे भ्रष्टमङ्गलः ॥ 14.29 ॥

maitreya uvāca itthaṁ viparyaya-matiḥ pāpīyān utpathaṁ gataḥ anunīyamānas tad-yācñāṁ na cakre bhraṣṭa-maṅgalaḥ

Maitreya continued: Thus that most sinful king, his understanding wholly perverted and driven to a wayward path, would not grant the sages' plea, though pressed with all humility — for his own good fortune had already deserted him.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.4.14.30)

इति तेऽसत्कृतास्तेन द्विजाः पण्डितमानिना । भग्नायां भव्ययाच्ञायां तस्मै विदुर चुक्रुधुः ॥ 14.30 ॥

iti te ’sat-kṛtās tena dvijāḥ paṇḍita-māninā bhagnāyāṁ bhavya-yācñāyāṁ tasmai vidura cukrudhuḥ

Thus insulted by that king, who thought himself learned, and their gracious request now broken, the brahmanas, O Vidura, were filled with anger against him.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.4.14.31)

हन्यतां हन्यतामेष पापः प्रकृतिदारुणः । जीवञ्जगदसावाशु कुरुते भस्मसाद् ध्रुवम् ॥ 14.31 ॥

hanyatāṁ hanyatām eṣa pāpaḥ prakṛti-dāruṇaḥ jīvañ jagad asāv āśu kurute bhasmasād dhruvam

"Let him be slain, let him be slain, this sinner of a cruel nature — for living, he will surely soon reduce this whole world to ashes!"

Verse 32 (bhagavata.4.14.32)

नायमर्हत्यसद्वृत्तो नरदेववरासनम् । योऽधियज्ञपतिं विष्णुं विनिन्दत्यनपत्रपः ॥ 14.32 ॥

nāyam arhaty asad-vṛtto naradeva-varāsanam yo ’dhiyajña-patiṁ viṣṇuṁ vinindaty anapatrapaḥ

"This man of evil conduct, who without shame reviles Vishnu Himself, the Lord of sacrifice, does not deserve to sit upon the throne of kings at all."

Verse 33 (bhagavata.4.14.33)

को वैनं परिचक्षीत वेनमेकमृतेऽशुभम् । प्राप्त ईदृशमैश्वर्यं यदनुग्रहभाजनः ॥ 14.33 ॥

ko vainaṁ paricakṣīta venam ekam ṛte ’śubham prāpta īdṛśam aiśvaryaṁ yad-anugraha-bhājanaḥ

"Who but this one man, Vena, so utterly inauspicious, would ever revile Him, by whose grace alone such sovereignty as this is even received?"

Verse 34 (bhagavata.4.14.34)

इत्थं व्यवसिता हन्तुमृषयो रूढमन्यवः । निजघ्नुर्हुङ्कृतैर्वेनं हतमच्युतनिन्दया ॥ 14.34 ॥

itthaṁ vyavasitā hantum ṛṣayo rūḍha-manyavaḥ nijaghnur huṅkṛtair venaṁ hatam acyuta-nindayā

Thus resolved to slay him, the sages, their long-hidden anger now unleashed, struck down Vena with the mere sound of their curse — he was already as good as dead for his blasphemy against Achyuta.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.4.14.35)

ऋषिभिः स्वाश्रमपदं गते पुत्रकलेवरम् । सुनीथा पालयामास विद्यायोगेन शोचती ॥ 14.35 ॥

ṛṣibhiḥ svāśrama-padaṁ gate putra-kalevaram sunīthā pālayām āsa vidyā-yogena śocatī

When the sages had returned to their own hermitages, Sunitha, grieving, preserved her son's dead body by the application of mystic art.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.4.14.36)

एकदा मुनयस्ते तु सरस्वत्सलिलाप्लुताः । हुत्वाग्नीन् सत्कथाश्चक्रुरुपविष्टाः सरित्तटे ॥ 14.36 ॥

ekadā munayas te tu sarasvat-salilāplutāḥ hutvāgnīn sat-kathāś cakrur upaviṣṭāḥ sarit-taṭe

One day those same sages, having bathed in the waters of the Sarasvati and offered oblations into the fire, sat upon its bank engaged in sacred discourse.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.4.14.37)

वीक्ष्योत्थितांस्तदोत्पातानाहुर्लोकभयङ्करान् । अप्यभद्रमनाथाया दस्युभ्यो न भवेद्भुवः ॥ 14.37 ॥

vīkṣyotthitāṁs tadotpātān āhur loka-bhayaṅkarān apy abhadram anāthāyā dasyubhyo na bhaved bhuvaḥ

Seeing terrible omens then arising, portents of danger to the world, they said: "May no misfortune from bandits befall this now-orphaned earth."

Verse 38 (bhagavata.4.14.38)

एवं मृशन्त ऋषयो धावतां सर्वतोदिशम् । पांसुः समुत्थितो भूरिश्चोराणामभिलुम्पताम् ॥ 14.38 ॥

evaṁ mṛśanta ṛṣayo dhāvatāṁ sarvato-diśam pāṁsuḥ samutthito bhūriś corāṇām abhilumpatām

While the sages were thus reflecting, a great cloud of dust arose from every direction, raised by thieves running about, plundering on all sides.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.4.14.39)

तदुपद्रवमाज्ञाय लोकस्य वसु लुम्पताम् । भर्तर्युपरते तस्मिन्नन्योन्यं च जिघांसताम् ॥ 14.39 ॥

tad upadravam ājñāya lokasya vasu lumpatām bhartary uparate tasminn anyonyaṁ ca jighāṁ-satām

Understanding this disturbance to be the work of men plundering the people's wealth and, with their king now dead, bent on destroying one another —

Verse 40 (bhagavata.4.14.40)

चोरप्रायं जनपदं हीनसत्त्वमराजकम् । लोकान्नावारयञ्छक्ता अपि तद्दोषदर्शिनः ॥ 14.40 ॥

cora-prāyaṁ jana-padaṁ hīna-sattvam arājakam lokān nāvārayañ chaktā api tad-doṣa-darśinaḥ

seeing this fault, the sages, though capable of restraining it, did not check the people, now become nearly lawless, without strength and without any king.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.4.14.41)

ब्राह्मणः समदृक् शान्तो दीनानां समुपेक्षकः । स्रवते ब्रह्म तस्यापि भिन्नभाण्डात्पयो यथा ॥ 14.41 ॥

brāhmaṇaḥ sama-dṛk śānto dīnānāṁ samupekṣakaḥ sravate brahma tasyāpi bhinna-bhāṇḍāt payo yathā

Even a brahmana, equal-sighted and at peace, if he neglects the suffering of the poor, finds his own spiritual power draining away, as water leaks from a cracked vessel.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.4.14.42)

नाङ्गस्य वंशो राजर्षेरेष संस्थातुमर्हति । अमोघवीर्या हि नृपा वंशेऽस्मिन् केशवाश्रयाः ॥ 14.42 ॥

nāṅgasya vaṁśo rājarṣer eṣa saṁsthātum arhati amogha-vīryā hi nṛpā vaṁśe ’smin keśavāśrayāḥ

"This lineage of the royal sage Anga," they said, "ought not to come to an end — for in this line the kings, favored by Keshava, are ever unfailing in their potency."

Verse 43 (bhagavata.4.14.43)

विनिश्चित्यैवमृषयो विपन्नस्य महीपतेः । ममन्थुरूरुं तरसा तत्रासीद्बाहुको नरः ॥ 14.43 ॥

viniścityaivam ṛṣayo vipannasya mahīpateḥ mamanthur ūruṁ tarasā tatrāsīd bāhuko naraḥ

Having resolved thus, the sages vigorously churned the thigh of the deceased king; from it there emerged a man, dwarfish in form.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.4.14.44)

काककृष्णोऽतिह्रस्वाङ्गो ह्रस्वबाहुर्महाहनुः । ह्रस्वपान्निम्ननासाग्रो रक्ताक्षस्ताम्रमूर्धजः ॥ 14.44 ॥

kāka-kṛṣṇo ’tihrasvāṅgo hrasva-bāhur mahā-hanuḥ hrasva-pān nimna-nāsāgro raktākṣas tāmra-mūrdhajaḥ

He was black as a crow, his limbs exceedingly short, his arms short, his jaws large, his feet short, his nose flat at the tip, his eyes red, and his hair the color of copper.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.4.14.45)

तं तु तेऽवनतं दीनं किं करोमीति वादिनम् । निषीदेत्यब्रुवंस्तात स निषादस्ततोऽभवत् ॥ 14.45 ॥

taṁ tu te ’vanataṁ dīnaṁ kiṁ karomīti vādinam niṣīdety abruvaṁs tāta sa niṣādas tato ’bhavat

To him, standing bowed and humble, asking "What shall I do?" they said, "Sit down (nishida)" — and thus he became the Nishada.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.4.14.46)

तस्य वंश्यास्तु नैषादा गिरिकाननगोचराः । येनाहरज्जायमानो वेनकल्मषमुल्बणम् ॥ 14.46 ॥

tasya vaṁśyās tu naiṣādā giri-kānana-gocarāḥ yenāharaj jāyamāno vena-kalmaṣam ulbaṇam

His descendants, the Naishadas, dwell in the hills and forests, for through his very birth he carried away the whole terrible taint of Vena's sin.