सोंऽधे तमसि मज्जेत यावदिन्द्राश्चतुर्द्दश
He sinks into utter darkness for as many ages as there are fourteen Indras.
प्रजासंरक्षणं त्यक्त्वा चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्
Abandoning the protection of subjects, which grants the fruit of the four aims of life,
शूद्राणां द्विजसेवा च लोकरक्षा महीभृताम्
Service to twice-born by Śūdras, and protection of the world by kings,
अज्ञानाद्वा प्रमादाच्च पतितः स न संशयः
Whether by ignorance or by negligence, he falls—of this there is no doubt.
सुबुद्ध्याचारशीलश्च वेदोक्तं त्यजति द्विजाः
A twice-born who, though of good intellect, conduct, and character, abandons what is enjoined by the Veda,
एकान्तशीलो नृपतिर्भृत्यः कर्मविवर्जितः
A king who is solitary, or a servant who abstains from action,
अयं हि नियमोपेतो हरिपूजनतत्परः
This one, indeed, is endowed with discipline and devoted to the worship of Hari.
व्यपोह्य हरिपूजां वै ब्रह्महत्यां तु विन्दति
But if he abandons the worship of Hari, he incurs the sin of killing a Brāhmaṇa.
अन्नात्प्रभवति प्राणः प्राणाद्देहविचेष्टनम्
From food arises life; from life, the activity of the body.
एवं ज्ञात्वा मया राजा बोध्यमानो न बुद्ध्यति
Even though I have explained this to the king, he does not understand.
न व्रतं किञ्चिदस्त्यन्यन्नृपस्य द्विजसत्तमाः
There is no other vow for a king, O best of twice-born.
तद्देवकार्यं स च यज्ञहोमो यद्रक्तपातो न भवेत् स्वराष्ट्रे
That is the work of the gods, and that is the sacrifice and oblation—where no blood is shed in his own realm.
तथ्यमित्येवमुक्त्वा तु राजानं वाक्यमब्रुवन्
Saying 'It is true,' they thus addressed the king with these words:
एकादश्यां न भोक्तव्यं पक्षयोरुभयोरपि
On the eleventh day, one must not eat, on either fortnight.
साग्रीनां प्राशनं प्रोक्तमुभयोः संध्ययोः किल
The eating of sāgrī is prescribed at both twilights, indeed.
विशेषाद्भूमिपालानां कथं युक्तमुपोषणम्
Especially for kings, how is fasting appropriate?
शास्त्रतो ऽशास्त्रतो वापि यस्त्वया शपथः कृतः
Whether according to scripture or not, whatever oath you have made,
व्रतभङ्गो न ते ऽस्तीह भुक्ष्वं विप्रसमन्वितः
There is no violation of your vow here; eat together with the brahmins.
यो ऽन्यथा मन्यते वाक्यं विप्राणां नृपसत्तम
O best of kings, whoever interprets the words of the brahmins otherwise,
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं रोद्रं राजा कोपसमन्वितः
Hearing those harsh words, the king became filled with anger.
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां भवन्तो मार्गदर्शिनः
You are the guides for all beings,
विमार्गगामिनां चैतन्मतं न सात्वतां क्वचित्
But this view is never accepted among the Sātvatas for those who stray from the path.
तत्र वाक्यानि शृणुत वैष्णवा चारलक्षणे
Now listen to the statements regarding the conduct of Vaiṣṇavas.
एका दश्यां न भोक्तव्यं पक्षयोरुभयोरपि
On the eleventh day, one must not eat, on either of the two lunar fortnights.
क्रीडेन्नाक्षैस्तु धर्मज्ञो नाश्नीयाद्धरिवासरे
One who knows dharma should not play with dice nor eat on the day of Hari.
एकादश्यां भोजनं च पतनस्यैव कारणम्
Eating on the eleventh day is indeed the cause of downfall.
को हि संचेष्टमानस्तु भुनक्ति हरिवासरे
Who indeed, while being active, eats on the day of Hari?
उत्तराशास्थितैर्विप्रैर्विष्णुधर्मपरायणैः
By brahmins established in the northern direction, devoted to the dharma of Viṣṇu,
नोपक्षीणशरीरो ऽहं नामयावी द्विजोत्तमाः
O best of twice-born, I am not one with a diminished body nor am I a deceiver.
धर्मभूषणसंज्ञेन रक्ष्यमाणे धरातले
While the earth is protected by those known as the ornaments of dharma,