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.
शक्त्याऽन्नदानं सततं तितिक्षा धर्मनित्यता। यथार्हं प्रतिपूजा च सर्वभूतेषु वै दया
Constant giving of food according to one's ability, endurance, devotion to righteousness, proper honor, and compassion toward all beings.
त्यागान्नान्यत्र मर्त्यानां गुणास्तिष्ठान्ति पूरुषे। मृषावादं परिहरेत्कुर्यात्प्रियमयाचितः
Except for renunciation, virtues do not remain in mortals; one should avoid false speech and act kindly when asked.
न च कामान्न संरम्भान्न द्वेषाद्धर्ममुत्सृजेत्। प्रिये नातिभृशं हृष्येदप्रिये न च संज्वरेत्
One should not abandon righteousness for desire, anger, or hatred; in pleasant things, do not rejoice excessively, nor grieve in unpleasant things.
न मुह्येदर्थकृच्छ्रेषु न च धऱ्मं परित्यजेत्। कर्म चेत्किंचिदन्यत्स्यादितरन्न तदाचरेत्
One should not be confused in difficulties, nor abandon righteousness; if there is any other action, one should not perform it.
यत्कल्याणमभिध्यायेत्तत्रात्मानं नियोजयेत्। न पापं प्रति पापः स्यात्साधुरेव सदा भवेत्
One should direct oneself toward what is good; one should never be evil toward evil, but always remain virtuous.
आत्मनैव हतः पापो यः पापं कर्तुमिच्छति। कर्म चैतदसाधूनां वृजिनानामसाधुकम्
He who desires to commit evil is destroyed by his own self; such actions are unworthy of the unrighteous and wicked.
न धर्मोस्तीति मन्वानाः शुचीनवहसन्ति ये। अश्रद्दधाना धर्मस् ते नश्यन्ति न संशयः
Those who believe there is no righteousness and mock the pure, lacking faith—such people are destroyed by unrighteousness; of this there is no doubt.
महादृतिरिवाध्मातः पापो भवति नित्यदा। `साधुः सन्नतिमानेव सर्वत्रद्विजसत्तम
Sinful is he who is always inflated with pride, like a great mountain swelled up; but the virtuous, O best of twice-born, are humble everywhere.
मूढानामवलिप्तानामसारं भाषितं भवेत्। दर्शयन्त्यन्तरात्मानं दिवा रूपमिवांशुमान्
The speech of the foolish and arrogant is empty; their inner self is revealed, like the sun showing its form by day.
न लोके राजते मूर्खः केवलात्मप्रशंसया। अपिचेह मृजाहीनः कृतविद्यः प्रकाशते
A fool does not shine in the world by merely praising himself; even a learned man lacking purity does not become illustrious here.