Text 12] The Story of King Vena 591

all these discrepancies, we should at once try to pacify him. By doing so,
we may not be touched by the sinful results caused by him.

PURPORT

The saintly sages elected King Vena to become king, but he proved to
be mischievous; therefore the sages were very much afraid of incurring
sinful reaction. The law of karma even prohibits a person to associate with
a mischievous individual. By electing Vena to the throne, the saintly sages
certainly associated with him. Ultimately King Vena became so mischievous
that the saintly sages actually became afraid of becoming contaminated by
his activities. Thus before taking any action against him, the sages tried to
pacify and correct him so that he might turn from his mischief.

TEXT 12

tad-vidvadbhir asad-urtto
veno ’smabhih krto nrpah
sdntvito yadi no vacam
na grahisyaty adharma-krt
loka-dhik-kara-sandagdham
dahisyamah sva-tejasa

tat—his mischievous nature; vidvadbhih—aware of; asat-vrttah—impious;
venah— Vena; asmabhih—by us; krtah—was made; nrpah—king; sdntvitah—
(in spite of) being pacified; yadi—if; nah—our; vécam—words; na—not; gra-
hisyati—he will accept; adharma-krt—the most mischievous; loka-dhik-kdra
—by public condemnation; sandagdham—burned; dahisyamah—we shall
burn; sva-tejasa—by our prowess.

TRANSLATION

The saintly sages continued thinking: Of course we are completely aware
of his mischievous nature. Yet nevertheless we enthroned Vena. If we can-
not persuade King Vena to accept our advice, he will be condemned by
the public, and we will join them. Thus by our prowess we shall burn him

to ashes.
PURPORT

Saintly persons are not interested in political matters, yet they are
always thinking of the welfare of the people in general. Consequently they
