Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 4 Chapter 13:39-49

Book 4: Chapter 13

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 13: Verses 39-49 Dhruva's posterity and the narrative of king Anga While yet a (mere) child, the boy was ardently attached to his mothers father, Mrtyu (the god of death), who had sprung from a portion of Adharma (the spirit presiding over unrighteousness); so he turnedout to be impious. Taking up his bow and playing the role of a hunter dwelling in the woods, the wicked fellow would kill poor (innocent) deer; and people would cry out (whenever they saw him): "Here is Vena (a tyrant)!" Nay, that most cruel and hard-hearted boy would violently strangle, as so many beasts, children of his own age sporting in the playground. Finding his son (so) wicked, the emperor (Anga) tried to correct him by various (forms of) punishment; but when he was unable to tame him, he felt sore depreesed in spirits. (He said to himself:) "Householders who are issueless have surely propitiated the Deity (in their previous birth) inasmuch as they are saved the agony caused by (the presence of) an undesirable son, which is indeed hard to bear. What wise man would make much of that which, though bearing the name of a son, binds one's soul with the fetter of infatuation, is a source of infamy to the parents and involves them in great sin, nay; which arouses a feeling of antagonism in all, causes infinite worry' and makes the home a hotbed of affliction? I account a bad son as preferable to a worthy son, who is a source of (many). sorrows (inasmuch as he strengthens one's attachment to the home). For the former turns a home into a hell so that a man gets (easily) disgusted with it." Pondering thus and disgusted at heart with his home, which was full of great prosperity, the emperor, who could not get a wink of sleep, got up (from his bed) at dead of night and, unobserved by (other) men, departed (for the woods), leaving the queen (the mother of Vena) fast asleep. The people as well as the high priest (of the royal house), ministers and relations of the king and others were overwhelmed with excessive grief when they came to know that their lord had departed in disgust, and searched for him all over the globe, even as Yogis not knowing the secret of Yoga look (outside for the Supreme Person concealed within the heart. Finding no trace of the emperor (however) and balked in their attempt, they returned to the city and bowing to the sages assembled (there), told them with tears in their eyes, O Vidura (scion of Puru), about the disappearance of their master. Thus ends the thirteenth discourse in Book Four of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.