Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 4 - Chapter 1 - Verse 8
Sanskrit:
अहो उभयत: प्राप्तं लोकस्य व्यसनं महत् ।दारुण्युभयतो दीप्ते इव तस्करपालयो: ॥ ८ ॥
ITRANS:
aho ubhayataḥ prāptaṁlokasya vyasanaṁ mahatdāruṇy ubhayato dīpteiva taskara-pālayoḥ
Translation:
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.