FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.14.7

वेनस्यावेक्ष्य मुनयो दुर्वृत्तस्य विचेष्टितम् । विमृश्य लोकव्यसनं कृपयोचु: स्म सत्रिण: ॥ ७ ॥
venasyāvekṣya munayo
[venasyaavekshya munayo]
durvṛttasya viceṣṭitam
[durvrittasya vicheshtitam]
vimṛśya loka-vyasanaṁ
[vimrishya loka-vyasanam]
kṛpayocuḥ sma satriṇaḥ
[kripayochuh sma satrinah]
venasya — of King Vena āvekṣya — after observing munayaḥ — all the great sages durvṛttasya — of the great rogue viceṣṭitam — activities vimṛśya — considering loka-vyasanam — danger to the people in general kṛpayā — out of compassion ūcuḥ — talked sma — in the past satriṇaḥ — the performers of sacrifices.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
venasyāvekṣya munayo
venasya
of King Vena
āvekṣya
after observing
munayaḥ
all the great sages
durvṛttasya viceṣṭitam
durvṛttasya
of the great rogue
viceṣṭitam
activities
vimṛśya loka-vyasanaṁ
vimṛśya
considering
loka-vyasanam
danger to the people in general
kṛpayocuḥ sma satriṇaḥ
kṛpayā
out of compassion
ūcuḥ
talked
sma
in the past
satriṇaḥ
the performers of sacrifices.
Therefore all the great sages assembled together and, after observing cruel Vena’s atrocities, concluded that a great danger and catastrophe was approaching the people of the world. Thus out of compassion they began to talk amongst themselves, for they themselves were the performers of the sacrifices.

Before King Vena was enthroned, all the great sages were very much anxious to see to the welfare of society. When they saw that King Vena was most irresponsible, cruel and atrocious, they again began to think of the welfare of the people. It should be understood that sages, saintly persons and devotees are not unconcerned with the people’s welfare. Ordinary karmīs are busy acquiring money for sense gratification, and ordinary jñānīs are socially aloof when they speculate on liberation, but actual devotees and saintly persons are always anxious to see how the people can be made happy both materially and spiritually. Therefore the great sages began to consult one another on how to get out of the dangerous atmosphere created by King Vena.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Seeing the activities of sinful Vena and considering the danger to the people, the sages, with compassion, spoke among themselves.
Seeing his atrocities, the sages assembled out of compassion to deliberate. The contemplatives didn't 'stay out of politics' — when the stakes were existential they sat down together.
Reflection Questions
  • Which assembly should I be convening rather than waiting to be invited to?
  • Where does my 'I'm not political' stance excuse me from real responsibility?
📝 My note

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