# SB 4.13.22 > किं वांहो वेन उद्दिश्य ब्रह्मदण्डमयूयुजन् । > दण्डव्रतधरे राज्ञि मुनयो धर्मकोविदाः ॥२२॥ ## Text > kiṁ vāṁho vena uddiśya > brahma-daṇḍam ayūyujan > daṇḍa-vrata-dhare rājñi > munayo dharma-kovidāḥ ## Synonyms *kim*—why; *vā*—also; *aṁhaḥ*—sinful activities; *vene*—unto Vena; *uddiśya*—seeing; *brahma-daṇḍam*—the curse of a *brāhmaṇa*; *ayūyujan*—they desired to award; *daṇḍa-vrata-dhare*—who carries the rod of punishment; *rājñi*—unto the king; *munayaḥ*—the great sages; *dharma-kovidāḥ*—completely conversant with religious principles. ## Translation **Vidura also inquired: How is it that the great sages, who were completely conversant with religious principles, desired to curse King Vena, who himself carried the rod of punishment, and thus awarded him the greatest punishment [brahma-śāpa]?** ## Purport It is understood that the king is able to give punishment to everyone, but in this case it appears that the great sages punished him. The king must have done something very serious, otherwise how could the great sages, who were supposed to be the greatest and most tolerant, still punish him in spite of their elevated religious consciousness? It appears also that the king was not independent of the brahminical culture. Above the king was the control of the *brāhmaṇas,* and if needed the *brāhmaṇas* would dethrone the king or kill him, not with any weapon, but with the *mantra* of a *brahma-śāpa.* The *brāhmaṇas* were so powerful that simply by their cursing one would immediately die.