प्रहृष्टचेतसः सख्यः स्वस्थानं परिजग्मिरे । गतासु तासु सर्वासु सखीषु द्विजसत्तमः
Her delighted friends also returned to their own places; when all the companions had departed, the best of twice-born men—
रेमे त्वंगस्तया सार्धं प्रियया भार्यया सह । तस्यामुत्पाद्य तनयं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्
He enjoyed happiness with his beloved wife, Sunīthā; from her, he begot a son endowed with all auspicious marks.
चकार नाम तस्यैव वेनाख्यं तनयस्य हि । ववृधे स महातेजाः सुनीथातनयस्तदा
He gave that son the name Vena; that son of Sunīthā, possessing great energy, grew up at that time.
वेदशास्त्रमधीत्यैव धनुर्वेदं गुणान्वितम् । सर्वासामपि मेधावी विद्यानां पारमेयिवान्
Having studied the Vedas and scriptures, and the Dhanurveda with its qualities, he became the most intelligent among all, mastering every branch of knowledge.
अंगस्य तनयो वेनः शिष्टाचारेण वर्तते । स वेनो ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठः क्षत्त्राचारपरोऽभवत्
Vena, the son of Aṅga, followed the conduct of the virtuous; O best of Brahmins, that Vena was devoted to the practices of the Kṣatriyas.
दिवि चेंद्रो यथा भाति सर्वतेजःसमन्वितः । भात्येवं तु महाप्राज्ञः स्वबलेन पराक्रमैः
Just as Indra shines in heaven, endowed with all brilliance, so too did that great and wise one shine by his own strength and valor.
चाक्षुषस्यांतरे प्राप्ते वैवस्वतसमागते । प्रजापालं विना लोके प्रजाः सीदंति सर्वदा
When the interval of the Cākṣuṣa Manu had passed and the era of Vaivasvata arrived, the people always suffered in the world without a protector.
ऋषयो धर्मतत्त्वज्ञाः प्रजाहेतोस्तपोधनाः । व्यचिंतयन्महीपालं धर्मज्ञं सत्यपंडितम्
The seers, knowers of the essence of dharma, rich in austerity for the sake of the people, contemplated a king who was wise in dharma and truly learned.
तं वेनमेव ददृशुः संपन्नं लक्षणैर्युतम् । प्राजापत्ये पदे पुण्ये अभ्यषिंचन्द्विजोत्तमाः
They saw Vena himself, endowed with auspicious marks, and the excellent twice-born installed him in the sacred office of Prajāpati.
अभिषिक्ते महाभागे त्वंगपुत्रे तदा नृपे । ते प्रजापतयः सर्वे जग्मुश्चैव तपोवनम्
When the noble son of Aṅga was anointed king, all the Prajāpatis departed for the forest of austerities.
गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु वेनो राज्यमकारयत् । सूत उवाच- सा सुनीथा सुतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वराज्यप्रसाधकम्
When they had all departed, Vena ruled the kingdom; Sūta said: Sunīthā, seeing her son as the establisher of all sovereignty—
विशंकते प्रभावेण शापात्तस्य महात्मनः । मम पुत्रो महाभागो धर्मत्राता भविष्यति
She doubted, because of the power of the curse on that great soul: 'My noble son will become the protector of dharma.'
इत्येवं चिंतयेन्नित्यं पूर्वपापाद्विशंकिता । धर्मांगानि सुपुण्यानि सुताग्रे परिदर्शयेत्
Thus she always thought, anxious because of former sin, and would show her son the limbs of dharma, most virtuous, at the forefront.
सत्यभावादि कान्पुण्यान्गुणान्सा वै प्रकाशयेत् । इत्युवाच सुतं सा हि अहं धर्मसुता सुत
She would reveal to him such virtues as truthfulness and other auspicious qualities; thus she said to her son: 'I am the daughter of Dharma, O son.'
पिता ते धर्मतत्त्वज्ञस्तस्माद्धर्मं समाचर । इत्येवं बोधयेन्नित्यं पुत्रं वेनं तदा सती
Your father is knowledgeable in the essence of dharma; therefore, practice righteousness. Thus, at that time, the virtuous wife would always instruct her son Vena.
मातापित्रोस्तयोर्वाक्यं प्रजायुक्तं प्रपालयेत् । एवं वेनः प्रजापालः संजातःक्षितिमंडले
He should uphold the words of his mother and father, which are for the welfare of the people. In this way, Vena became the protector of the subjects on earth.
सुखेन जीवते लोकःप्रजाधर्मेणरंजिताः । एवं राज्यप्रभावं तु वेनस्यापि महात्मनः
The people live happily, delighted by the righteousness of their ruler. Thus, the influence of Vena's reign, too, was great.
धर्मभावाः प्रवर्तंते तस्मिञ्छासति पार्थिवे
The qualities of dharma flourish when that king governs.
सप्तत्रिंशोऽध्यायः 2.37 ऋषय ऊचुः- एवं वेनस्य चैवासीत्सृष्टिरेव महात्मनः । धर्माचारं परित्यज्य कथं पापमतिर्भवेत्
Chapter Thirty-Seven. The sages said: Thus, the creation of the noble Vena occurred. How could he, abandoning the practice of dharma, become one of sinful intent?
सूत उवाच- ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्ना मुनयस्तत्त्ववेदिनः । शुभाशुभं वदंत्येवं तन्न स्यादिह चान्यथा
Sūta said: The sages, endowed with knowledge and wisdom, know the truth. They speak of auspicious and inauspicious things thus; it cannot be otherwise here.
तप्यमानेन तेनापि सुशंखेन महात्मना । दत्तः शापः कथं विप्रा न यथावच्च जायते
Even by that great soul Suśankha, who was afflicted, a curse was given. O brāhmaṇas, why does it not occur as it should?
वेनस्य पातकाचारं सर्वमेव वदाम्यहम् । तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे प्रजापाले महात्मनि
I will tell you all of Vena's sinful conduct. While that righteous, great protector of the people ruled,
पुरुषः कश्चिदायातश्छद्म लिंगधरस्तदा । नग्नरूपो महाकायः शिरोमुंडो महाप्रभः
A certain man arrived then, disguised in false attire, naked in form, of great size, with a shaven head and great radiance.
मार्जनीं शिखिपत्राणां कक्षायां स हि धारयन् । गृहीतं पानपात्रं तु नालिकेरमयं करे
He carried a broom made of peacock feathers in his armpit, and in his hand he held a drinking vessel made of coconut.
पठमानो ह्यसच्छास्त्रं वेदधर्मविदूषकम् । यत्र वेनो महाराजस्तत्रायातस्त्वरान्वितः
Reciting a false scripture that corrupted Vedic dharma, he hurried to where King Vena was.
सभायां तस्य वेनस्य प्रविवेश स पापवान् । तं दृष्ट्वा समनुप्राप्तं वेनः प्रश्नं तदाकरोत्
That sinful man entered Vena's assembly. Seeing him arrive, Vena then questioned him.
भवान्को हि समायात ईदृग्रूपधरो मम । सभायां वर्तमानस्य पुरः कस्मात्समागतः
Who are you, who have come here in such a form? Why have you approached me in my assembly?
को वेषः किं नु ते नाम को धर्मः कर्म ते वद । को वेदस्ते क आचारः किं तपः का प्रभावना
What is your attire? What is your name? What is your dharma? Tell me your actions. What is your Veda? What is your practice? What is your austerity? What is your power?
किं ज्ञानं कः प्रभावस्ते किं सत्यं धर्मलक्षणम् । तत्त्वं सर्वं समाचक्ष्व ममाग्रे सत्यमेव च
What is your knowledge? What is your power? What is truth, the mark of dharma? Tell me everything, the essence, and only the truth, before me.
श्रुत्वा वेनस्य तद्वाक्यं पापो वाक्यमुदाहरत् । पातक उवाच- करोष्येवं वृथा राज्यं महामूढो न संशयः
Hearing Vena's words, the sinful man spoke. The sinner said: You rule the kingdom in vain, utterly deluded, without doubt.