Shloka 10
King Vena’s Tyranny, the Sages’ Counsel, and the Birth of Niṣāda
अहेरिव पय:पोष: पोषकस्याप्यनर्थभृत् । वेन: प्रकृत्यैव खल: सुनीथागर्भसम्भव: ॥ १० ॥
aher iva payaḥ-poṣaḥ poṣakasyāpy anartha-bhṛt venaḥ prakṛtyaiva khalaḥ sunīthā-garbha-sambhavaḥ
The sages began to think within themselves: Because he was born from the womb of Sunīthā, King Vena is by nature very mischievous. Supporting this mischievous king is exactly like maintaining a snake with milk. Now he has become a source of all difficulties.
Saintly persons are generally aloof from social activities and the materialistic way of life. King Vena was supported by the saintly persons just to protect the citizens from the hands of rogues and thieves, but after his ascendance to the throne, he became a source of trouble to the sages. Saintly people are especially interested in performing sacrifices and austerities for the advancement of spiritual life, but Vena, instead of being obliged because of the saints’ mercy, turned out to be their enemy because he prohibited them from executing their ordinary duties. A serpent who is maintained with milk and bananas simply stores poison in his teeth and awaits the day to bite his master.
FAQs
This verse states that Vena was inherently wicked and compares supporting such a person to feeding a serpent with milk—harmful even to the supporter—implying that adharma in leadership brings misfortune to society and its patrons.
To show that resources given to a malicious person do not purify them; instead, they become stronger in harmful tendencies, and the benefactor also suffers the consequences.
Be discerning about whom you empower—financially, socially, or politically—because supporting destructive character can amplify harm and return suffering to the supporter as well.