navadhyeyah praja-palah

prajabhir aghavan api

yad asau loka-palanam

bibharty ojah sva-tejasa

 

Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

It is the duty of all citizens in a state never to insult the king, even though he sometimes appears to have done something very sinful. Because of his prowess, the king is always more influential than all other ruling chiefs.

 

Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

According to Vedic civilization the king is supposed to be the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is called nara-narayana, indicating that Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appears in human society as the king. It is etiquette that neither a brahmana nor a ksatriya king is ever insulted by the citizens; even though a king appears to be sinful, the citizens should not insult him. But in the case of Vena it appears that he was cursed by the nara-devatas; therefore, it was concluded that his sinful activities were very grievous.