Text 4]
The Story of King Vena
585
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.
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.
TEXT 4
स आरुढनृपस्थान उन्नद्रोऽष्टविभूतिभिः । अवमेने महाभागान् स्तब्धः सम्भावितः स्वतः ॥ ४ ॥
sa ārūḍha-nṛpa-sthāna unnaddho 'ṣṭa-vibhūtibhiḥ avamene mahā-bhāgān stabdhaḥ sambhāvitaḥ svataḥ
saḥ—King Vena; ārūḍha—ascended to; nṛpa-sthānaḥ—the seat of the king; unnaddhaḥ—very proud; aṣṭa—eight; vibhūtibhiḥ—by opulences; avamene—began to insult; mahā-bhāgān—great personalities; stabdhaḥ—inconsiderate; sambhāvitaḥ—considered great; svataḥ—by himself.
TRANSLATION
When the King ascended to the throne, he became all-powerful with eight kinds of opulences. Consequently he became too proud. By virtue of his false prestige, he considered himself to be greater than anyone. Thus he began to insult great personalities.
PURPORT
In this verse the word aṣṭa-vibhūtibhiḥ, meaning by eight opulences, is very important. The king is supposed to possess eight kinds of opulences.