602 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 14

vafichitam—desired result; tat-helanam—disrespect to them; na—not;
arhasi—you ought; vira—O hero; cestitum—to do.

TRANSLATION

When all the brahmanas engage in performing sacrifices in your kingdom,
all the demigods, who are plenary expansions of the Lord, will be very
much satisfied by their activities and will give you your desired result.
Therefore, O hero, do not stop the sacrificial performances. If you stop
them, you will disrespect the demigods.

TEXT 23
a7 Jay

afm ta qd at aad saath: |
q afad oft fear are saad R31

vena uvaca
balisd bata yityarm va
adharme dharma-maninah
ye urtti-dam patim hitva
jaram patim updsate

venah—King Vena; uvaca—replied; balisah—childish; bata—oh;
yiiyam—all of you; va—indeed; adharme—in irreligious principles; dharma-
maninah—accepting as religious; ye—all of you who; urtti-dam—providing
maintenance; patim—husband; hitvd—giving up: jaram—paramour; patim—
husband; updsate—worship.

TRANSLATION

King Vena replied: You are not at all experienced. It is very much re-
grettable that you are maintaining something which is not religious and are
accepting it as religious. Indeed, I think you are giving up your real husband
who maintains you and are searching after some paramour to worship.

PURPORT

King Vena was so foolish that he accused the saintly sages of being in-
experienced like small children. In other words, he was accusing them of
not having perfect knowledge. In this way he could reject their advice and
make accusations against them, comparing them with a woman who does
not care for her husband who maintains her but goes to satisfy a paramour
who does not maintain her. The purpose of this simile is apparent. It is the
