Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.14.8
अहो उभयत: प्राप्तं लोकस्य व्यसनं महत् ।
दारुण्युभयतो दीप्ते इव तस्करपालयो: ॥ ८ ॥
aho ubhayataḥ prāptaṁ
[aho ubhayatah praaptam]
lokasya vyasanaṁ mahat
[lokasya vyasanam mahat]
dāruṇy ubhayato dīpte
[daaruny ubhayato deepte]
iva taskara-pālayoḥ
[iva taskara-paalayoh]
Word-for-word
aho
—
alas
ubhayataḥ
—
from both directions
prāptam
—
received
lokasya
—
of the people in general
vyasanam
—
danger
mahat
—
great
dāruṇi
—
a log
ubhayataḥ
—
from both sides
dīpte
—
burning
iva
—
like
taskara
—
from thieves and rogues
pālayoḥ
—
and from the king.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
aho ubhayataḥ prāptaṁ
aho
alas
ubhayataḥ
from both directions
prāptam
received
lokasya vyasanaṁ mahat
lokasya
of the people in general
vyasanam
danger
mahat
great
dāruṇy ubhayato dīpte
dāruṇi
a log
ubhayataḥ
from both sides
dīpte
burning
iva taskara-pālayoḥ
iva
like
taskara
from thieves and rogues
pālayoḥ
and from the king.
When the great sages consulted one another, they saw that the people were in a dangerous position from both directions. When a fire blazes on both ends of a log, the ants in the middle are in a very dangerous situation. Similarly, at that time the people in general were in a dangerous position due to an irresponsible king on one side and thieves and rogues on the other.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The people have great danger from both sides—from the thieves and from the King, like a log burning at both ends.
When a log burns from the root and the tip, the ants in the middle have danger from both sides. The citizens must flee to a fort out of fear of thieves and in the state they must fear their protector, the King.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The sages saw the people, like ants between two fires, were caught between irresponsible king and lawless rogues. Sometimes the people are squeezed from both sides; relief requires removing one of the fires.
Reflection Questions
- Which 'two-fire' situation am I trying to endure when one of the fires must actually be put out?
- Where am I one of the fires squeezing someone, without seeing it?
My note
Source: vedabase.io