स तु ज्ञाता द्विजं प्राप्तं सहसा संभ्रमोत्थितः। आजगाम यतो विप्रः स्थित एकान्तआसने
When he recognized that a brahmin had arrived, he rose up in haste and came to where the brahmin was seated alone.
अभिवादये त्वां भगवन्स्वागतं ते द्विजोत्तम। अहं व्याधो हि भद्रं ते किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्
He greeted him, saying: 'Revered sir, welcome to you, best of twice-born! I am a hunter—may good fortune be yours. What can I do for you? Command me.'
एकपत्न्या यदुक्तोसि गच्छ त्वं मिथिलामिति। जानाम्येतदहं सर्वं यदर्थं त्वमिहागतः
'You have been told by your wife to go to Mithila. I know all this, and the reason for which you have come here.'
श्रुत्वा च तस्य तद्वाक्यं स विप्रो भृशविस्मितः। द्वितीयमिदमाश्चर्यमित्यचिन्तयत द्विजः
Hearing these words, the brahmin was greatly astonished, and thought, 'This is another marvel!'
अदेशस्थं हि ते स्तानमिति व्याघोऽब्रवीद्द्विजम्। गृहं गच्छाव भगवन्यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ
The hunter said to the brahmin, 'This is not the proper place for you to stay. Let us go to my house, venerable one, if it pleases you, O sinless one.'
बाढमित्येव तं विप्रो हृष्टो वचनमब्रवीत्। अग्रतस्तु द्विजं कृत्वा स जगाम गृहं प्रति
The brahmin, delighted, replied, 'Very well.' Placing the brahmin in front, the hunter led the way toward his house.
प्रविश्य च गृहंरम्यमासनेनाभिपूजितः। `अर्ध्येण च स वै तेन व्याधेन द्विजसत्तमः
Entering the pleasant house, the best of brahmins was honored with a seat and with water for washing his feet by the hunter.
पाद्यमाचमनीयं च प्रतिगृह्य द्विजोत्तमः। ततः सुखोपविष्स्तं व्याधं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having accepted water for washing the feet and for sipping, the best of brahmins, comfortably seated, spoke to the hunter.
कर्मैतद्वै न सदृशं भवतः प्रतिभाति मे। अनुतप्ये भृशं तात तव घोरेण कर्मणा
'This work does not seem fitting for you. I am deeply troubled, my friend, by your dreadful occupation.'
कुलोचितमिदं कर्म पितृपैतामहं परम्। वर्तमानस्य मे धर्मे स्वे मन्युं मा कृथा द्विज
'This work is proper for my lineage, inherited from my father and grandfather. Do not be angry with me, brahmin, as I follow my own dharma.'
विधात्रा विहितं पूर्वं कर्म स्वमनुपालयन्। प्रयत्नाच्च गुरू वृद्धौ शुश्रूषेऽहं द्विजोत्तम
'I carry out the work assigned by the Creator, and with effort I have served my elders and teachers, O best of brahmins.'
सत्यं वदे नाभ्यसूये यथाशक्ति ददामि च। देवतातिथिभृत्यानामवशिष्टेन वर्तये
'I speak the truth, do not envy others, and give as much as I am able. With what remains, I maintain the gods, guests, and servants.'
न कुत्सयाम्यहं किंचिन्न गर्हे बलवत्तरम्। कृतमन्वेति कर्तारं पुरा कर्म द्विजेत्तम
'I do not despise anything, nor do I blame what is stronger. The deed follows the doer, O best of brahmins, as it was done before.'
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यमिह लोकस्य जीवनम्। दण्डनीतिस्त्रयो विद्या तेन लोको भवत्युत
'Farming, cattle-keeping, and trade are the livelihoods of the people here. These three, along with the science of punishment, sustain the world.'
कर्म शूद्रे कृषिर्वैश्ये संग्रामः क्षत्रिये स्मृतः। ब्रह्मचर्यतपोमन्त्राः सत्यं च ब्राह्मणे सदा
'Farming is the duty of the shudra, trade of the vaishya, battle of the kshatriya; for the brahmin, always, are celibacy, austerity, mantras, and truth.'
राजा प्रशास्ति धर्मेण स्वकर्मनिरताः प्रजाः। विकर्माणश्च ये केचित्तान्युनक्ति स्वकर्मसु
'The king rules the people through righteousness, as they are devoted to their own duties; and those who act wrongly, he restrains from their own duties.'
भेतव्यं हि सदा राज्ञां प्रजानामधिपा हिते। मारयन्ति विकर्मस्थं लुब्धा मृगमिवेषुभिः
'The rulers, always intent on the welfare of the people, must be feared; they slay the wrongdoer, greedy like a hunter kills a beast with arrows.'
जनकस्येह विप्रर्षे विकर्मस्थो न विद्यते। स्वकर्मनिरता वर्णाश्चत्वारोपि द्विजोत्तम
'In the realm of Janaka, O sage among brahmins, there is no one acting wrongly; all four classes, O best of twice-born, are devoted to their own duties.'
स एष जनको राजा दुर्वृत्तमपि चेत्सुतम्। दण्ड्यं दण्डे निक्षिपति यथा न ग्लाति धार्मिकम्
This King Janaka, even if his own son acts wickedly, imposes punishment according to law, so that the righteous are not harmed.
सुयुक्तचारो नृपतिः सर्वं धर्मेण पश्यति। श्रीश्च राज्यं च दण्डश्च क्षत्रियाणां द्विजोत्तम
The ruler, with proper intelligence, observes everything by means of righteousness; wealth, kingdom, and punishment belong to the Kshatriyas, O best of Brahmins.
राजानो हि स्वधर्मेण श्रियमिच्छन्ति भूयसीम्। सर्वेषामेव वर्णानां त्राता राजा भवत्युत
Kings, by following their own duty, desire abundant prosperity; indeed, the king becomes the protector of all classes.
परेण हि हतान्ब्रह्मन्वराहमहिषानहम्। न स्वयं हन्मि विप्रर्षे विक्रीणामि सदा त्वहम्
O Brahmin, I do not kill boars or buffaloes myself, but have them slain by others; nor do I ever sell them, O sage.
न भक्षयामि मांसानि ऋतुगामी तथाह्यहम्। सदोपवासी च तथा नक्तभोजी सदा द्विज
I do not eat meat; I observe the seasons, always fast, and eat only at night, O twice-born.
अशीलश्चापि पुरुषो भूत्वा भवति शीलवान्। प्राणिहिंसारतिश्चापि भवते धार्मिकः पुनः
Even a man without virtue can become virtuous; one who delights in harming living beings can again become righteous.
व्यभिचाराननरेन्द्राणां धर्मः संकीर्यते महान्। अधर्मो वर्तते चापि संकीर्यन्ते ततः प्रजाः
When kings commit transgressions, righteousness becomes greatly corrupted; unrighteousness prevails, and then the subjects are corrupted.
भेरुण्डा वामनाः कुब्जाः स्थूलशीर्षास्तथैव च। क्लीबाश्चान्धाश्च बधिरा जायन्तेऽत्युच्चलोचनाः
Bherundas, dwarfs, hunchbacks, those with large heads, impotent, blind, deaf, and those with excessively protruding eyes are born.
पार्थिवानामधर्मत्वात्प्रजानामभवः सदा। स एष राजा जनकः प्रजा धर्मेण पश्यति
Because of the unrighteousness of kings, defects always arise among the people; this King Janaka observes his subjects with righteousness.
अनुगृह्णन्प्रजाः सर्वाः स्वधर्मनिरताः सदा। `पात्येष राजा जनकः पितृवद्द्विजसत्तम
He supports all his subjects, who are always devoted to their own duties; this King Janaka protects them like a father, O best of twice-born.
येचैव मां प्रशंसन्ति येच निन्दन्ति मानवाः। सर्वान्सुपरिणीतेन कर्माणा तोषयाम्यहम्
Those who praise me and those who blame me, all people—I satisfy them with well-performed actions.
ये जीवन्ति स्वधर्मेण संयुञ्जन्ति च पार्थिवाः। न किंचिदुपजीवनति दान्ता उत्थानसीलिनः
Those who live by their own duty and are joined with the king, do not subsist on anything else; they are restrained and diligent.