श्रुत्वा नृपासनगतं वेनमत्युग्रशासनम् निलिल्युर्दस्यवः सद्यः सर्पत्रस्ता इवाखवः
śrutvā nṛpāsana-gataṁ venam aty-ugra-śāsanam nililyur dasyavaḥ sadyaḥ sarpa-trastā ivākhavaḥ
Synonyms
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.