udahṛṣyan - blossomed abundantly; vāri-jāni - the lotuses; sūrya - the sun; utthāne - when it had arisen; kumut - the night-blooming kumut lotus; vinā - except; rājñā - because of the presence of a king; tu - indeed; nirbhayāḥ - fearless; lokāḥ - the populace; yathā - as; dasyūn - the thieves; vinā - except for; nṛpa - O King.

O King Parīkṣit, when the autumn sun rose, all the lotus flowers blossomed happily, except the night-blooming kumut, just as in the presence of a strong ruler everyone becomes fearless, except the thieves.