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.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
न द्रुमेभ्यो महाभागा दीनेभ्यो द्रोग्धुमर्हथ । विवर्धयिषवो यूयं प्रजानां पतयः स्मृताः
na drumebhyo mahābhāgā dīnebhyo drogdhumarhatha | vivardhayiṣavo yūyaṃ prajānāṃ patayaḥ smṛtāḥ
SB 6.4.7