ऋत्विग्वा शास्त्रहीनश्च मा मे राज्ये वसेदिह
Let neither a priest without ritual nor one ignorant of scripture live in my kingdom.
निर्वास्यौ तावुभौ पापौ यो वै मद्यं करोति च
Both those sinners who make or consume liquor shall be expelled.
तस्य वासो न मे राज्ये स्वकलत्रं त्यजेच्च यः
Whoever abandons his own wife, or does not reside in my kingdom, is to be punished.
गच्छेत्सगर्भां युवतीं प्रसूतां दण्ड्यश्च वध्यश्च स चास्मदीयैः
He who approaches a young woman who is pregnant or has given birth shall be punished with death by my people.
पितुर्ननियोगाद्राजेन्द्र पालयन् हरिवासरम्
O king, while observing Hari's day, without his father's command, he protected it.
नासुखी नाप्रजः कश्चिन्न वा फुष्ठी महीपते
O king, no one was unhappy, childless, or afflicted.
घटदोग्ध्रीषु नृपते तृप्तवत्सासु धेनुषु
Among the milkmaids, and among cows whose calves were satisfied, O king,
प्रहृष्टायां तु मेदिन्यां सर्वधान्यसमुद्भवः
When the earth was joyful, all kinds of grains sprang forth.
व्यतीते जलदापाये निर्मले चांबरे गृहे
When the clouds had passed, the sky was clear, and the home was pure,
मध्यप्रवाहयुक्तासु निम्नगासु समन्ततः
In rivers flowing in the middle, everywhere,
चन्द्रांशुधवले लोके नातितीव्रे दिवाकरे
In a world bright with moonlight, where the sun was not too intense,
यत्रोत्सुकैः प्रयातैस्तु भूमिपालैः समन्ततः
Where kings, eager, went forth everywhere,
मोहिनी रमयामास तत्काले हृच्छयार्दिता
At that time, Mohini, afflicted by love, delighted them.
वनेषु गिरिशृङ्गेषु नदीनां संगमेषु च
In forests, on mountain peaks, and at the confluences of rivers,
मलये मन्दरे विन्ध्ये महेन्द्रे विबुधालये
On Malaya, Mandara, Vindhya, Mahendra, and in the abode of the gods,
अन्येषु चैव राजानं स्वर्गस्थानादिकेषु च
And in other places, and among kings in heavenly realms and the like,
राजापि मोहिनीं प्राप्य सर्वं कृत्यं परित्यजन्
Even the king, having attained Mohini, abandoned all his duties.
व्रतं नोपेक्षते तत्तु अतिमुग्धो ऽपि पार्थिवः
The king, though utterly enchanted, did not neglect that vow.
एवं प्रकीडतस्तस्य पूर्णे संवत्सरे गते
Thus, while he played, when the year was completed,
निद्राछेदकरो विष्णोः स मासः पुण्यदायकः
That month of Vishnu, which brings merit, caused sleeplessness.
अक्षयं हि भवेत्सर्वं विष्णुलोकप्रदायकम्
Indeed, all that is given which grants the world of Vishnu becomes inexhaustible.
न धर्मस्तु दया तुल्यो न ज्योतिश्चक्षुषा समम्
There is no righteousness equal to compassion, nor is there any light equal to the eye.
न भूम्या सदृशं दानं न सुखं भार्यया समम्
There is no gift equal to land, nor happiness equal to that from a wife.
न तपो ऽनशनादन्यन्न दमेन समं शिवम्
There is no austerity greater than fasting, nor any blessedness equal to self-control.
न धर्मेण समं मित्रं न सत्येन समं यशः
There is no friend equal to righteousness, nor fame equal to truth.
न कार्तिकसमं लोके पावनं कवयो विदुः
The wise know that nothing in the world is as purifying as the month of Kartika.
अव्रतो हि क्षिपेद्यस्तु मासं दामोदरप्रियम्
Whoever, without vow, neglects the month dear to Damodara,
तिर्यग्योनिमवाप्नोति सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः
Such a one attains a non-human birth, excluded from all righteousness.
मोहिनीं मोहसंयुक्तां कथं स बुभुजे वद
Tell me, how did he enjoy Mohini, who was filled with delusion?
तस्मिन्पुण्यतमे मासे किं चकार नृपोत्तमः
What did the best of kings do in that most holy month?