Bhagavatam part 7: Story of King Vena

Learn how the cruel King Vena’s fall gave birth to Nishadhas and reshaped Anga’s lineage in Hindu mythology.

The Fall of King Vena and the Birth of the Nishadhas—A Tale from Hindu Mythology

The Legacy of King Anga

, a descendant of —the devotee who became the Pole Star by Lord Vishnu’s boon—was married to . Despite their virtues, the royal couple remained childless, which deeply saddened the king.

During the , King Anga noticed that no (gods) accepted his offerings. His chief priest revealed that the king’s previous birth’s sins prevented divine acceptance and offspring. He advised the king to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu.

Determined, King Anga performed a sacred for progeny. During the final offering (), a divine figure in white robes appeared, carrying a golden pot of rice kheer (sweet pudding). The mysterious being handed it to the king and vanished.

King Anga presented the divine kheer to Queen Sunita, who ate it with devotion. Soon, she conceived and gave birth to a son—. Their joy was boundless.

The Rise and Fall of King Vena

However, happiness soon turned into grief. From childhood, Prince Vena was cruel, arrogant, and violent. He delighted in hunting and tormenting others. King Anga tried sermons, punishments, and love—but nothing could change his son’s wicked nature.

One night, troubled by despair, King Anga left his palace and disappeared into the forest. His sudden vanishing left the kingdom leaderless and chaotic.

To restore order, and the royal council crowned Vena as king, though many disapproved. Soon after ascending the throne, Vena declared:

“No one shall worship the gods. I am the supreme ruler. All sacrifices must be offered to me!”

This blasphemous proclamation plunged the realm into darkness. With the gods displeased, robberies, famine, and demonic forces spread fear among the people.

The sages tried to reason with King Vena, reminding him:

“A true king must uphold dharma (righteousness), protect his subjects, and perform Yagnas to please the gods.”

But Vena, blinded by pride, mocked them. Enraged, the sages cursed him, and King Vena fell dead instantly.

King Vena

The Creation of the Nishadhas

Heartbroken, Queen Sunita preserved her son Vena’s body for years. Meanwhile, the sages realized that the kingdom needed a righteous ruler to revive Anga’s lineage.

Gathering by the , they decided to create a new being from Vena’s body. Chanting sacred mantras, they churned his thigh, from which emerged a dark dwarf with flat features—a being named .

Bahuka inherited all of Vena’s sins and cruelty. From him descended the Nishadhas, a tribe that lived in forests and mountains, known for hunting and survival skills.

According to the , Queen Sunita was the daughter of Mrityu (Death), explaining why Vena’s cruelty was inherited through his lineage.

Legacy and Significance

This story from the and Padma Purana illustrates the karmic consequences of unrighteous rule and the divine rebalancing of dharma. From Vena’s fall would later emerge King Prithu, a symbol of righteousness and prosperity, who restored order to the world.

<Part 6: Self-immolation of Sati | Part 8: Story of King Prithu>