कुलप्रदीब राजेन्द्र राज्ञं मण्डलवर्तिनाम् । लब्धं च भारते जन्म पुण्येन बहुजन्मनाम्
O king, lamp of the lineage, among the circle of kings, birth in Bharata is attained by the merit of many lives.
पद्मानां चन्द्रवंश्यानां नृपाणां दीप्तिहेतवे । त्वमाविरासीस्तेजस्वी ग्रूष्ममध्याह्नभास्करः
Among the lotus-born, the lunar dynasty, and the kings, you appeared as a radiant one, like the midday summer sun.
सर्वेषामश्रमाणां च स्वधर्मश्च यशः परम् । स्वधर्महीना नरके पतन्ति मूढयेतसः
For all the orders of life, their own duty is the highest glory; those who are devoid of their own duty, bewildered in mind, fall into hell.
ब्राह्मणस्या स्वधर्मश्च त्रिसंध्यमर्चनं हरेः । तत्पादोदकनैवेद्यभक्षणं च सुधाधिकम्
For a brāhmaṇa, his own duty is the worship of Hari at the three junctions of the day, and the consumption of the water that has washed His feet and His offerings, which surpass nectar.
अन्नं विष्ठा जलं मूत्रमनिवेद्य हरेर्नृप । भवन्ति सूकराःसर्वे ब्राह्मणा यदिभुञ्जते
O king, food, excrement, water, and urine not offered to Hari—if brāhmaṇas eat these, they all become pigs.
आजीवं भुञ्जते विप्रा एकादश्यां न भुञ्जते । कृष्णजन्मदिने चैव शिवरात्रौ सुनिश्चेतम्
Brāhmaṇas eat throughout their lives, but do not eat on the eleventh day, on Kṛṣṇa's birthday, or on the night of Śiva, with firm resolve.
तथा रामनवभ्यां च यत्नतः पुण्यवासरे । ब्राह्मणानां स्वधर्मश्च कथितो ब्रह्मणा नृप
Likewise, on Rāma's birth days and on auspicious days, with care; thus the own duty of brāhmaṇas has been declared by Brahmā, O king.
व्रतं पतिव्रतानां च पतिसेवा परं तपः । यथा पुत्रः परपतिरेष धर्मश्च योषिताम्
For devoted wives, their vow is the service of their husband, which is the highest austerity; for women, the husband is like a son and another's husband, this is their dharma.
पालयन्ति यथा भूपाः प्रजाः पुत्रानिवौरसान् । प्रजास्त्रियं च पश्यन्ति राजानो मातरं यथा
Just as kings protect their subjects as their own sons, and see the people and women as a mother, so too should they act.
यज्ञं कुर्वन्ति विष्णोश्च सेवनं देवविप्रयोः । निवारणं च दुष्टानां शिष्टानां प्रतिपालनम्
They perform sacrifices for Viṣṇu, serve the gods and brāhmaṇas, restrain the wicked, and protect the virtuous.
इति धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां कथितो ब्रह्मणा पुरा । वाणिज्यं चैव वैश्यानां स्वधर्मो धर्मसंचयः
Thus the dharma of kṣatriyas was declared by Brahmā in ancient times; for vaiśyas, their own duty is trade, which is the accumulation of merit.
शूद्राणां विप्रसेवा च परो धर्में विधीयते । सर्वन्यासो हरौ भूव धर्मः संन्यासिनां ध्रुवम्
For śūdras, service to brāhmaṇas is established as the highest dharma; for renunciants, the abandonment of all into Hari is certainly their dharma.
रक्तैकवासा दण्डी च बिभर्ति मृत्कमण्डलुम् । सर्वत्र समदर्शो च स्मरेन्नानायणं सदा
Wearing only red, carrying a staff, and holding an earthen water pot, seeing all equally everywhere, he always remembers the many forms of the Supreme.
करोति भ्रमणं नित्यं गेहे गेहे न तिष्ठति । विद्यामन्त्रं च कस्मैचिन्न ददाति च लोभतः
He wanders constantly, does not stay in any house, and out of greed does not give knowledge or mantra to anyone.
करोति नाऽऽश्रमं भिक्षुः करोति नान्यवासनाम् । करोति नान्यसङ्गं च निर्मोह सङ्गवर्जितः
The mendicant does not establish an āśrama, does not wear other garments, does not form other attachments, being free from delusion and devoid of attachment.
न स्वादुभुङ्क्ते लोभाच्चा स्त्रीमुखं न हि पश्यति । न वाञ्छितं भक्ष्यवस्तु याचते गुहिणां व्रती
He does not eat sweet foods out of greed, does not look at a woman's face, and does not ask for desired food from householders, being steadfast in his vow.
इति संन्यासिनां धर्म इत्याह कमलोद्भवः । इति ते कथितं पुत्र गच्छ वत्स यथासुखम्
Thus the dharma of renunciants was spoken by the lotus-born; thus I have told you, my son—go, child, as you please.
इत्युक्त्वा च महेन्द्राणी विरराम च वर्त्मनि । उवाच नहुषो राजा शचीं वक्रप्रकंधरः
Having said this, the queen of Mahendra ceased her discourse; then King Nahuṣa, with a crooked neck, spoke to Śacī.
नहुष उवाच त्वया यत्कथितं देवी सर्व ततु विपर्ययम् । यथार्थधर्मं वेदोक्तं निबोध कथायामि ते
Nahuṣa said: O goddess, whatever you have said is the opposite; now listen as I tell you the true dharma as taught in the Vedas.
कर्मणां फलभोगश्च सर्वेषां सुरसुन्दरि । नैव स्वर्गे न पाताले नान्यद्वीपे श्रुतौ श्रुतम्
O beautiful one among the gods, the enjoyment of the fruits of actions for all is not heard to exist in heaven, nor in the underworld, nor on any other island, according to the scriptures.
कृत्वा शुभाशुभं कर्म पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते । अन्यत्र तत्फलं भुङ्क्ते कर्मी कर्मनिबन्धनात्
Having performed virtuous or sinful deeds in the sacred land of Bharata, elsewhere the doer experiences their results, bound by karma.
हिमालयादासमुद्रं पुण्यक्षेत्रं च भारतम् । श्रेष्ठं सर्वस्थलानां च मुनीनां च तपःस्थलम्
From the Himalayas to the ocean, Bharata is a sacred land, the foremost of all places, and the site of austerities for sages.
तत्र लब्ध्वा जन्म जीवी वञ्चितो विष्णुमायया । शश्वत्करोति विषयं विहाय सेवनं हरेः
There, having obtained birth, the living being is deceived by Vishnu's maya, yet constantly serves Hari, abandoning worldly pleasures.
कृत्वा तत्र महत्पुण्यं स्वर्ग गच्छति पुण्यवान् । गृहीत्वा सर्वकन्याश्च चिरं स्वर्गे प्रमोदते
Having performed great merit there, the virtuous one attains heaven, and, taking all maidens, delights in heaven for a long time.
स्वर्गमागच्छति नरो विहाय मानवीं तनुम् । स्वशरीरेणाऽऽगतोऽहं मत्पुण्यं पश्य सुन्दरि
A man attains heaven, leaving behind his human body; I have arrived in my own form—behold my merit, O beautiful one.
अनेकजन्मपुण्येन चाऽऽगतः स्वर्गमीप्सितम् । ततः किं केन पुण्येन दर्शनं मे त्वया सह
Having come by the merit of many births, I have reached the desired heaven; then, by what merit is my meeting with you accomplished?
न हि कर्मस्थलमिदं स्वभोगस्थलमेव च । सारं च सर्वभोगानां वरस्त्रीभोगमेव च
This is not a place for karma, but only for enjoyment; the essence of all pleasures here is the enjoyment of excellent women.
भोगस्थले भोगवस्तु न हि त्यक्तुं प्रशस्यते । भावानुरक्ता रसिका भोग्या त्वं भोगिनामिह
In the realm of enjoyment, it is not commendable to renounce objects of pleasure; you, attached in feeling and skilled in delight, are to be enjoyed by the enjoyers here.
द्रव्यमस्वामिकं भोग्यं सुखं त्यजति सन्दधीः । अविरोधसुखत्यागी पशुरेव न संशयः
One who abandons enjoyable, ownerless wealth and happiness with a tranquil mind, who gives up pleasure without opposition, is surely like a beast.
गच्छ कान्ते गुहं गत्वा कुरु तल्पं मनोहरम् । रमणीयं च रहसि वरं रतिकरं परम्
Go, beloved, enter the cave and prepare a charming bed; in seclusion, make it delightful and supremely fit for pleasure.