पश्यमानो बहून्देशान्धनधान्यसमन्वितान्
Observing many lands filled with wealth and grain,
तमायान्तं नृपं श्रुत्वा चारैर्द्धर्माङ्गदः सुतः
Hearing from spies that the king was approaching, Dharmāṅgada, the son,
एषा प्कराशमायाति उदीची दिङ् नृपोत्तमाः
Behold, O best of kings, that procession is coming from the northern direction.
तस्माद्गच्छामहे सर्वे संमुखं ह्यवनीपतेः
Therefore, let us all go to meet the lord of the earth face to face.
स याति नरकं घोरं यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्द्दशा
He goes to a dreadful hell, as do the fourteen Indras,
पदे पदे यज्ञफलं प्रोचुः पौराणिका द्विजाः
At every step, the twice-born narrators of the Purāṇas have declared the fruit of sacrifice.
अभिवादयितुं प्रेम्णा एष मे देवदेवता
With love, I have come to offer my respects to my revered deity.
जगाम संमुखं पद्भ्यां क्रोशमात्रं पितुस्तदा
Then, approaching on foot, he came within a krośa of his father.
स गत्वा दूरमध्वानमाससादनृपं पथि
Having traveled a long distance, he met the king on the road.
शिरसा राजभिः सार्द्धं प्रणाममकरोत्तदा
Then, together with the kings, he bowed with his head.
अवरुह्य हयाद्राजा समुत्थाप्य सुतं विभो
The king dismounted from his horse and raised up his son, O lord.
मूर्ध्नि चैवमुपाघ्राय उवाच तनयं तदा
He then smelled his son's head and spoke to him at that time.
न्यायागतेन वित्तेन कोशं पुत्र बिभर्षि च
Do you, my son, maintain the treasury with wealth acquired justly?
कच्चित्ते कान्तशीलत्वं कच्चिद्वक्ताः न निष्ठुरम्
Are you of gentle character? Do you refrain from harsh speech?
कच्चिद्वचनकर्तारस्तनयाश्च पितुः सदा
Are your sons always obedient to their father's words?
कच्चिद्विवादान्विप्रेस्तु समं नेक्षस आत्मज
My son, do you look upon disputants impartially?
तुलामानानि सर्वाणि ह्यन्नादीनां सदेक्षसे
Do you always inspect all the measures and weights of food and other goods?
कच्चिन्न द्यूतपानादि वर्तते विषये तव
Is there no gambling, drinking, or the like occurring in your realm?
न दानैर्जीर्णवस्त्रैश्च नोपजीवन्ति मानवाः
People do not subsist on gifts of worn-out garments.
कच्चिच्च मातरः सर्वा ह्यविशेषेण पश्यसि
Do you regard all mothers equally, without distinction?
शशिनि क्षीणतां प्राप्ते कच्चिच्छ्राद्धपरो नरः
When the moon has waned, does a man devote himself to the rites for ancestors?
निद्रा मूलमधर्मस्य निद्रा पापविवर्द्धिनी
Sleep is the root of unrighteousness; sleep increases sin.
नहि निद्रान्वितो राजा चिरं शास्ति वसुंधराम्
A king overcome by sleep does not rule the earth for long.
एवमुच्चरमाणं तं तनयो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
As he spoke thus, his son addressed him with these words.
सर्वमेतत्कृतं तात पुनः कर्तास्मि ते वचः
All this has been done, father; I will again fulfill your command.
किं ततः पातकं राजन्यो न कुर्यात्पितुर्वचः
What greater sin is there for a king than not obeying his father's word?
न तत्तीर्थफलं भुङ्क्ते यो न कुर्यात्पितुर्वचः
He who does not carry out his father's command does not enjoy the fruit of pilgrimage.
त्वदधीनो हि मे धर्मस्त्वं च मे दैवतं परम्
My duty depends on you, and you are my supreme deity.
किं पुनर्देहवित्ताभ्यां केशदानादिभिर्विभो
What then of body or wealth, or of offerings such as hair, O lord?
सत्यमेतत्त्वया पुत्र व्याहृतं धर्मवेदिना
What you have spoken, son, is true, uttered by one who knows righteousness.