FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.14.12

तद्विद्वद्‌भिरसद्‍वृत्तो वेनोऽस्माभि: कृतो नृप: । सान्त्वितो यदि नो वाचं न ग्रहीष्यत्यधर्मकृत् । लोकधिक्कारसन्दग्धं दहिष्याम: स्वतेजसा ॥ १२ ॥
tad-vidvadbhir asad-vṛtto
[tad-vidvadbhir asad-vritto]
veno ’smābhiḥ kṛto nṛpaḥ
[veno ’smaabhih krito nripah]
sāntvito yadi no vācaṁ
[saantvito yadi no vaacham]
na grahīṣyaty adharma-kṛt
[na graheeshyaty adharma-krit]
loka-dhikkāra-sandagdhaṁ
[loka-dhikkaara-sandagdham]
dahiṣyāmaḥ sva-tejasā
[dahishyaamah sva-tejasaa]
Word-for-word
tat — his mischievous nature vidvadbhiḥ — aware of asat-vṛttaḥ — impious venaḥ — Vena asmābhiḥ — by us kṛtaḥ — was made nṛpaḥ — king sāntvitaḥ — (in spite of) being pacified yadi — if naḥ — our vācam — words na — not grahīṣyati — he will accept adharma-kṛt — the most mischievous loka-dhik-kāra — by public condemnation sandagdham — burned dahiṣyāmaḥ — we shall burn sva-tejasā — by our prowess.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tad-vidvadbhir asad-vṛtto
tat
his mischievous nature
vidvadbhiḥ
aware of
asat-vṛttaḥ
impious
veno ’smābhiḥ kṛto nṛpaḥ
venaḥ
Vena
sāntvito yadi no vācaṁ
na grahīṣyaty adharma-kṛt
loka-dhikkāra-sandagdhaṁ
asmābhiḥ
by us
kṛtaḥ
was made
nṛpaḥ
king
sāntvitaḥ
(in spite of) being pacified
dahiṣyāmaḥ sva-tejasā
yadi
if
naḥ
our
vācam
words
na
not
grahīṣyati
he will accept
adharma-kṛt
the most mischievous
loka-dhik-kāra
by public condemnation
sandagdham
burned
dahiṣyāmaḥ
we shall burn
sva-tejasā
by our prowess.
The saintly sages continued thinking: Of course, we were completely aware of his mischievous nature, yet we nevertheless enthroned Vena. If we cannot persuade King Vena to accept our advice, he will be condemned by the public, and we will join them. Thus by our prowess we shall burn him to ashes.
Purport

Saintly persons are not interested in political matters, yet they are always thinking of the welfare of the people in general. Consequently they sometimes have to come down to the political field and take steps to correct the misguided government or royalty. However, in Kali-yuga, saintly persons are not as powerful as they previously were. They used to be able to burn any sinful man to ashes by virtue of their spiritual prowess. Now saintly persons have no such power due to the influence of the Age of Kali. Indeed, the brāhmaṇas do not even have the power to perform sacrifices in which animals are put into a fire to attain a new life. Under these circumstances, instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly persons should engage in chanting the mahā-mantra, Hare Kṛṣṇa. By the grace of Lord Caitanya, by simply chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra the general populace can derive all benefits without political implications.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
We made him the King though we knew that he was sinful. If, after being advised, he does not accept our words, with our powers we will burn that sinner already condemned by public criticism. We appointed him, knowing he was sinful. Dahiṣyāmaḥ should be dhakṣyāmaḥ.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
We knew he was wicked but enthroned him anyway; if he won't take our advice, we'll join the public in condemning him and burn him with our prowess. Even saintly persons reserve power for righteous wrath when softer means fail.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I withholding necessary force because I've over-identified with gentleness?
  • Which 'prowess' do I have that I'm pretending not to have?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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