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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
<< Canto 4, The Creation of the Fourth Order >> << 14 - The Story of King Vena >>
<< VERSE 3 >>
श्रुत्वा नृपासनगतं वेनमत्युग्रशासनम् । निलिल्युर्दस्यवः सद्यः सर्पत्रस्ता इवाखवः ॥३॥
śrutvā nṛpāsana-gataṁ venam atyugra-śāsanam nililyur dasyavaḥ sadyaḥ sarpa-trastā ivākhavaḥ
WORD BY WORD
śrutvā after hearing; nṛpa of the King; āsana-gatam ascended to the throne; venam Vena; ati very; ugra severe; śāsanam punisher; nililyuḥ hid themselves; dasyavaḥ all the thieves; sadyaḥ immediately; sarpa from snakes; trastāḥ being afraid; iva like; ākhavaḥ rats.;
TRANSLATION
| It was already known that Vena was very severe and cruel; therefore, as soon as all the thieves and rogues in the state heard of his ascendance to the royal throne, they became very much afraid of him. Indeed, they hid themselves here and there as rats hide themselves from snakes.
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PURPORT
| When the government is very weak, rogues and thieves flourish. Similarly, when the government is very strong, all the thieves and rogues disappear or hide themselves. Of course Vena was not a very good king, but he was known to be cruel and severe. Thus the state at least became freed from thieves and rogues.
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