Verse 13
A log burning at both ends· Verses 7–13
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7The sages at the long sacrifice saw what that badly behaved Vena was doing, thought over the trouble the world was in, and spoke out of pity. 8This great trouble has come on the world from both sides, like a log burning at both ends: from the robbers and from the one who guards. 9For fear of having no king we made this man king, and he did not deserve it. Now the fear comes from him too. How are living creatures to be well? 10Feeding a snake on milk brings ruin on the one who feeds it. Vena, who came out of Sunitha's womb, is vicious by his very nature. 11Set up to guard the people, he wants to kill the people. Still, let us speak gently to him; then his wrongdoing will not touch us.
12We knew better and we made Vena king, and his conduct is bad. If we speak gently and this wrongdoer will not take our word, 13we will burn him with our own heat, already scorched as he is by the world's blame. So resolved, the sages hid their anger, went to Vena, spoke gently to soothe him, and said: