Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 31
King Vena’s Tyranny, the Sages’ Counsel, and the Birth of Niṣāda
हन्यतां हन्यतामेष पाप: प्रकृतिदारुण: । जीवञ्जगदसावाशु कुरुते भस्मसाद् ध्रुवम् ॥ ३१ ॥
hanyatāṁ hanyatām eṣa pāpaḥ prakṛti-dāruṇaḥ jīvañ jagad asāv āśu kurute bhasmasād dhruvam
Semua resi suci segera berteriak: Bunuh dia! Bunuh dia! Dia adalah orang yang paling mengerikan dan berdosa. Jika dia hidup, dia pasti akan mengubah seluruh dunia menjadi abu dalam waktu singkat.
Saintly persons are generally very kind to all kinds of living entities, but they are not unhappy when a serpent or a scorpion is killed. It is not good for saintly persons to kill, but they are encouraged to kill demons, who are exactly like serpents and scorpions. Therefore all the saintly sages decided to kill King Vena, who was so dreadful and dangerous to all human society. We can appreciate the extent to which the saintly sages actually controlled the king. If the king or government becomes demonic, it is the duty of a saintly person to upset the government and replace it with deserving persons who follow the orders and instructions of saintly persons.
FAQs
Because King Vena had become violently irreligious and oppressive; the sages feared that if he remained alive he would rapidly devastate society and destroy dharma.
It refers to King Vena, whose rule had turned hostile to Vedic principles and harmful to the world.
Unchecked cruelty and godlessness in leadership quickly harms everyone; society must uphold dharma, accountability, and wise guidance to prevent widespread suffering.