सो ऽस्माभिरधिकं प्राप्तो मोक्षः सत्पुत्रसंभवः
Through him, we have attained a greater liberation—the birth of a virtuous son.
प्रतापिनि वरारोहे पितुर्मोक्षो गृहे ध्रुवम्
O splendid one with beautiful hips, the father's liberation in the house is assured.
पिता भवति चार्वङ्गि सत्कर्मकरणैः शुभैः
O lovely-limbed one, the father becomes so through auspicious and virtuous deeds.
सत्पुत्रः पितुरादाय भारमुद्वहते तु यः
A true son is he who takes up and bears his father's burden.
स्वेच्छाचरश्चाथ विशालनेत्रे विमुक्तपापो जनरक्षणाय
Then, acting according to his own will, O wide-eyed one, freed from sin, he protects the people.
सत्यमुक्तं त्वया राजन्पुत्रसौख्यात्परं सुखम्
What you have said is true, O king: there is no happiness greater than the happiness of a son.
तुल्यं भवति लोके ऽस्मिन् विष्ण्वाख्यस्य परस्य हि
In this world, nothing is equal to the supreme happiness called Viṣṇu.
मार्गी हिंसां परित्यज्य यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा जनार्दनम्
One who, abandoning violence, worships Janārdana with sacrifices—
एतन्न्याय्यं भवति भो न न्याय्यो मृगनिग्रहः
This is proper, O sir; the killing of animals is not just.
तथा विषयसेवा हि पितॄणां पुत्रिणां विदुः
In the same way, the wise say that a son should serve his parents.
निर्देषमृगयूथानां न युक्तं सूदनं तव
It is not right for you to slaughter innocent herds of animals.
कुर्वन्नपि वृथा धर्मान्यो हिंसामनुवर्तते
Even when performing duties in vain, one follows violence.
षड्विधं नृप ते प्रोक्तं विद्वद्भिर्जीवघातनम्
O king, the learned have described six kinds of killing living beings.
हिं सया संयुतं धर्ममधर्मं च विदुर्बुधाः
The wise recognize that righteousness mixed with violence is unrighteousness.
धर्मं समाश्रयमन्सम्यक्संजातपलितः पिता
A father, having grown gray, should rightly take refuge in righteousness.
मृगशीला हि राजानो विनष्टाः शतशो न-प
Indeed, hundreds of kings with a passion for hunting have perished.
दया वरा मृगे रीज्ञां धर्मिणामपि दृश्यते
Compassion toward animals is seen even among righteous kings.
एवं ब्रुवाणां तां भार्यां नृपो वचनमब्रवीत्
As his wife spoke thus, the king replied to her words.
पर्य्यटिष्ये धनुष्पाणिः कुर्वन्कण्टकशोधनम्
I will roam, bow in hand, carrying out the removal of thorns.
श्वापदेभ्यश्च दस्युभ्यः प्रजा रक्ष्या महीभृता
The ruler must protect his people from beasts of prey and robbers.
प्रजा अरक्षन्नृपतिः सधर्म्मो ऽपि व्रजत्यधः
Even a righteous king who does not protect his people falls into decline.
विमुक्तभावो ऽहमिति मेरुशृङ्गे रविर्यथा
I am detached, like the sun on the peak of Meru.
दोषापतिसमप्रख्यं निर्देषं क्षितिभूषणम्
The earth-adorner, equal to the lord of faults, without blame,
धरामादृत्य भूपालो दत्वा तं दक्षिणं करम्
The king, having honored the earth, gave him the proper tribute.
अशोकपल्लवाकारं वज्राङ्कुशविरोहणम्
With the appearance of fresh ashoka leaves and the ascent of the diamond goad,
साधयानो ययौ देशान्काननं स नृपोत्तमः
Having accomplished his purpose, that best of kings set out for the forests.
पदातयो निपेतुस्ते मूर्च्छिताः क्षितिमण्डले
Their feet collapsed, and they fell unconscious upon the ground.
योजनानां समुत्तीर्य शतमष्टोत्तरं नृप
O King, after traversing one hundred and eight yojanas,
अशोकबकुलोपेतं पुन्नागसरलावृतम्
They reached a place adorned with aśoka and bakula trees, and covered with punnāga and sarala.
नारिकेलैस्तथा तालैः केतकैः सिंदुवारकैः
There were also coconut and palmyra trees, ketaka and sinduvāra shrubs.