त्वमेव शक्तस्तां लङ्कां सयोधां सहरावणाम्। स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित् विनाशयितुमञ्जसा
'You alone, relying on your own strength of arms, were capable of destroying Lanka with its army and Ravana himself, all at once.'
न हि ते किंचिदप्राप्यं मारुतात्मज विद्यते। न चैव तव पर्याप्तो रावयणः सगणो युधि
'O son of the wind, there is nothing unattainable for you; nor was Ravana with all his forces any match for you in battle.'
एवमुक्तस्तु भीमेन हनूमान्प्लवगोत्तमः। प्रत्युवाच ततो वाक्यं स्निग्धगम्भीरया गिरा
Thus addressed by Bhima, Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys, replied with words deep and gentle.
एवमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि भारत। भीमसेन न पर्याप्तो ममासौ राक्षसाधमः
'It is even so, mighty-armed Bhimasena, as you say, O descendant of Bharata; that vile Rakshasa was not a match for me.'
वेदाचारविधानोक्तैर्यज्ञैर्धार्यन्ति देवताः। बृहस्पत्युशनःप्रोक्तैर्नयैर्धार्यन्ति मानवाः
'By sacrifices prescribed in the Vedas and rites, the gods are sustained; by policies taught by Brihaspati and Ushanas, men are upheld.'
तेन वीरेण तं हत्वा सगणं राक्षसाधमम्। आनीता स्वपुरं सीता कीर्तिश्च स्थापिता नृषु
'Thus, that heroic one, having slain the wicked Rakshasa and his followers, brought Sita back to his own city, and his fame was established among men.'
तद्गच्छ विपुलप्रज्ञ भ्रातुः प्रियहिते रतः। अरिष्टं क्षेममध्वानं वायुना परिरक्षितः
Go, O one of great wisdom, devoted to the welfare and happiness of your brother; may your journey be safe and free from obstacles, protected by the wind.
एष पन्थाः कुरुश्रेष्ठ सौगन्धिकवनाय ते। द्रक्ष्यसे धनदोद्यानं रक्षितं यक्षराक्षसैः
This is the path, O best of the Kurus, to the Saugandhika forest for you; you will see the garden of Kubera, guarded by Yakshas and Rakshasas.
न च ते तरसा कार्यः कुसुमापचयः स्वयम्। दैवतानि हि मान्यानि पुरुषेण विशेषतः
Do not, by your own force, pluck the flowers yourself; for the deities are to be honored, especially by a person.
बलिहोमनमस्कारैर्मन्त्रैश्च भरतर्षभ। दैवतानि प्रसादं हि भक्त्या कुर्वन्ति भारत
With offerings, oblations, salutations, and mantras, O bull among the Bharatas, the deities are indeed pleased by devotion, O descendant of Bharata.
मा तात साहसं कार्षीः स्वधर्मं परिपालय। स्वधर्मस्थापनं धर्मं बुध्यस्वागमयस्व च
Do not act rashly, dear son; uphold your own duty. Understand and establish righteousness through your own duty, and let it be assimilated.
न हि धर्ममविज्ञाय वृद्धाननुपसेव्य च। धर्मो वै वेदितुं शक्यो बृहस्पतिसमैरपि
For without understanding righteousness, and without serving the elders, even those equal to Brihaspati cannot truly know dharma.
अधर्मो यत्र धर्माख्यो धर्मश्चाधर्मसंज्ञितः। स विज्ञेयो विभागेन यत्रमुह्यन्त्यबुद्धयः
Where unrighteousness is called righteousness, and righteousness is designated as unrighteousness, that must be discerned carefully, for there the unwise are deluded.
आचारसंभवो धर्मो धर्माद्वेदाः समुत्थिताः। वेदैर्यज्ञाः समुत्पन्ना यज्ञैर्देवाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
Righteousness arises from proper conduct; from righteousness the Vedas have arisen; from the Vedas, sacrifices are produced; and by sacrifices, the gods are established.
बल्याकरवणिज्याभिः कृष्यर्थैर्योनिपोषणैः। वार्तया धार्यते सर्वं धर्मैरेतैर्द्विजातिभिः
By offerings, trade, agriculture, and the nourishment of offspring, all is sustained through livelihood by the twice-born, by means of these duties.
त्रयी वार्ता दण्डनीतिस्तिस्रो विद्या विजानताम्। ताभिः सम्यक्प्रवृत्ताभिर्लोकयात्रा विधीयते
The threefold Veda, livelihood, and the science of governance are the three branches of knowledge for the wise; by their proper practice, the course of the world is maintained.
सा चेद्धर्मकृता न स्यात्रयीधर्ममृते भुवि। दण्डनीतिमृतेचापि निर्मर्यादमिदं भवेत्
If these are not performed according to righteousness, and if the threefold Veda and righteous conduct are absent from the earth, and if the science of governance is lacking, then this world would be without order.
वार्ताधर्मे ह्यवर्तिन्यो विनश्येयुरिमाः प्रजाः। सुप्रवृत्तैस्त्रिभिर्ह्येतैर्धर्मैः सूयन्ति वै प्रजाः
Indeed, if people do not act according to the dharma of livelihood, these beings would perish; but when these three dharmas are properly practiced, beings are indeed born.
द्विजानाममृतं धर्मो ह्येकश्चैवैकवर्णकः। यज्ञाध्ययनदानानि त्रयः साधारणाः स्मृताः
For the twice-born, righteousness is like nectar, while for those of a single class, it is one alone; sacrifice, study, and charity are declared to be common to all.
याजनाध्यापने चोभे ब्राह्मणानां परिग्रहः। पालनं क्षत्रियाणां वै वैश्यधर्मश्च पोषणम्
For Brahmanas, both officiating at sacrifices and teaching are proper, as is accepting gifts; for Kshatriyas, protection is their duty, and for Vaishyas, it is nourishment.
शुश्रूषा च द्विजातीनां शूद्राणआं धर्म उच्यते। भैक्षहोमव्रतैर्हीनास्तथैव गुरुवासिताः
Service to the twice-born is declared to be the duty of Shudras; those who lack alms, oblations, vows, and residence with a teacher.
क्षत्रधर्मोऽत्रकौन्तेय तव धर्मोऽत्र रक्षणम्। स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व विनीतो नियतेन्द्रियः
The duty of the Kshatriya here, O son of Kunti, is protection; adhere to your own duty, disciplined and with controlled senses.
वृद्धैः संमन्त्र्य सद्भिश्च बुद्धिमद्भिः श्रुतान्वितैः। आस्थितः शास्तिदण्डेन व्यसनी परिभूयते
Having consulted with elders, the virtuous, the wise, and those learned in the scriptures, one who is established in the science of governance, if afflicted, is not overcome.
निग्रहानुग्रहैः सम्यग्यदा नेता प्रवर्तते। तदा भवन्ति लोकस्य मर्यादाः सुव्यवस्थिताः
When a leader acts properly with both restraint and favor, then the order of the people becomes well established.
तस्माद्देशे च दुर्गे च शत्रुमित्रबलेषु च। नित्यं चारेण बोद्धव्यं स्थानं वृद्धिः क्षयस्तथा
Therefore, by means of intelligence, one must always ascertain the position, growth, and decline in regions, fortresses, and among the forces of friend and foe.
राज्ञामुपायश्चारश्च बुद्धिमन्त्रपराक्रमाः। निग्रहप्रग्रहौ चैव दाक्ष्यं वै कार्यसाधकम्
The strategies of kings, intelligence gathering, wise counsel, and valor, as well as restraint and release, and skill are all essential for accomplishing tasks.
साम्ना दानेन भेदेन दण्डेनोपेक्षणेन च। साधनीयानि कार्याणि समासव्यासयोगतः
Tasks must be accomplished by conciliation, gifts, division, punishment, and neglect, employing both concise and detailed methods.
मन्त्रमूला नयाः सर्वेचाराश्च भरतर्षभ। सुमन्त्रितनयैः सद्भिस्तद्विधैः सह मन्त्रयेत्
All policies and intelligence have their foundation in counsel, O best of Bharatas; one should deliberate with good counselors, those skilled in policy, and those of similar expertise.
स्त्रिया मूढेन बालेन लुब्धेन लघुनाऽपि वा। न मन्त्रयीत गुह्यानि येषु चास्पनदलक्षणम्
One should not deliberate on secrets with a woman, a fool, a child, a greedy person, or one of weak character, nor with those who lack discernment.
मन्त्रयेत्सह विद्वद्भिः शक्तैः कर्माणि कारयेत्। स्निग्धैश्च नीतिविन्यासैर्मूर्खान्सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्
One should deliberate with learned and capable people, employ the able in tasks, rely on affectionate and skilled strategists, and avoid fools in every matter.