Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.4.7

na drumebhyo mahā-bhāgā

dīnebhyo drogdhum arhatha

vivardhayiṣavo yūyaḿ

prajānāḿ patayaḥ smṛtāḥ

SYNONYMS

na — not; drumebhyaḥ — the trees; mahā-bhāgāḥ — O greatly fortunate ones; dīnebhyaḥ — who are very poor; drogdhum — to burn to ashes; arhatha — you deserve; vivardhayiṣavaḥ — desiring to bring about an increase; yūyam — you; prajānām — of all living entities who have taken shelter of you; patayaḥ — the masters or protectors; smṛtāḥ — known as.

TRANSLATION

O greatly fortunate ones, you should not kill these poor trees by burning them to ashes. Your duty is to wish the citizens [prajās] all prosperity and to act as their protectors.

PURPORT

It is indicated herein that the government or king has the duty of protecting not only the human beings, but all other living entities, including animals, trees and plants. No living entity should be killed unnecessarily.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness