588
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 14]
PURPORT
Before King Vena was enthroned, all the great sages were very much anxious to see to the welfare of society. When they saw that King Vena was most irresponsible, cruel and atrocious, they again began to think of the welfare of the people. It should be understood that sages, saintly persons and devotees are not unconcerned with the people's welfare. Ordinary  karmīs  are busy acquiring money for sense gratification, and ordinary  jñānīs  are socially aloof when they speculate on liberation, but actual devotees and saintly persons are always anxious to see how the people can be made happy both materially and spiritually. Therefore the great sages began to consult one another on how to get out of the dangerous atmosphere created by King Vena.
TEXT 8
अहो उमयतः प्राप्तं लोकस्य व्यसनं महत् । दारुण्युमयतो दीप्ते इव तस्करपालयोः ॥८॥
aho ubhayataḥ prāptam lokasya vyasanam mahat dāruṇy ubhayato dīpte iva taskara-pālayoḥ
aho—alas; ubhayataḥ—from both directions; prāptam—received; lokasya—of the people in general; vyasanam—danger; mahat—great; dāruṇi—a log; ubhayataḥ—from both sides; dīpte—burning; iva—like; taskara—from thieves and rogues; pālayoḥ—and from the king.
TRANSLATION
When the great sages consulted one another, they saw that the people were in a dangerous position from both directions. When a fire blazes on both ends of a log, the ants in the middle are in a very dangerous situation. Similarly, at that time the people in general were in a dangerous position due to an irresponsible king on one side and thieves and rogues on the other.
TEXT 9
अराजकमयादेष कृतो राजातदर्हणः । ततोऽप्यासोद्धर्य त्वद्य कथं स्यात्स्वस्ति देहिनाम् ॥९॥