विष्णुकल्पे पुरा वृत्ते मन्वंतरमुखप्रिये
In the age of Vishnu, at the beginning of a former Manvantara, O beloved of Manu,
न मनुष्यैर्विना देवाः समर्था लोकधारणे
Without humans, even the gods are not capable of upholding the worlds.
योग्यो राजा प्रजापालः को भवेज्जनवत्सलः
Who is fit to be a king, a protector of the people, and one who cherishes his subjects?
पृथ्व्यां सर्वगुणाकीर्णं धर्मनिष्ठं महाव्रतम्
On earth, one endowed with all virtues, steadfast in righteousness, and devoted to great vows,
राज्यं च पाल्यतां वत्स एककल्पेन चेतसा
O child, let the kingdom be protected with a mind intent on a single purpose.
अलं ते तपसा तात कष्टेनानेन सांप्रतम्
Enough, dear one, of this harsh austerity for now.
क्रियतामधुना लोकपालनं तु ममाज्ञया
Now, by my command, let the protection of the world be undertaken.
न धर्मस्तादृशोऽन्योऽस्ति न चान्योऽर्थस्य साधकः
There is no other righteousness like this, nor any other means of prosperity.
नापकारेण भूतानामपि स्याद्भुवनेशता पृथ्वीं समुद्रवसनां प्रजाश्चैव प्रपालय ।। 5.2.74.
Not even by harming beings does lordship of the world arise; protect the earth clothed in oceans and the people as well.
इत्युक्तः स तु राजर्षिर्ब्रह्मणा पर्वतात्मजे
Thus addressed by Brahma, the royal sage spoke to the daughter of the mountain.
स्वभावेनाचला पृध्वी त्वया पूर्वं विनिर्मिता
By your own nature, O steadfast one, the earth was formerly created by you.
यद्यवश्यं मया पृध्वी पालनीया पितामह
If indeed, O Grandsire, the earth must be protected by me,
मनुष्यलोके विख्याता सकले सामरावती
She became renowned among humans as Sāmarāvatī.
मर्यादामनुवत्तेंयुर्यदि मे नाकवासिनः अनेन विधिना पृथ्वीं पालयिष्याम्यहं प्रभो
If the dwellers of heaven follow the established order, O Lord, then by this rule I shall govern the earth.
ये केचित्त्रिदशाः संति मद्गौरववशेन ते
All the gods who exist act out of respect for me.
देवनाथेति वै नाम भविष्यति च सुव्रत
And, O virtuous one, the name 'Lord of the Gods' will belong to me.
अथ राजा प्रतिज्ञाय ब्रह्मणा भूमिपालनम्
Then the king, having vowed before Brahmā to protect the earth,
भवतां विहितः स्वर्गो मनुजानां च भूतलम्
Heaven was assigned to you, and the earth to humans.
ये स्थिता यांतु ते देवा मनुजानामियं धरा त्रिदशा ब्रह्मणो वाक्याद्गौरवात्त्रिदिवं गताः ।। 5.2.74.
Let those gods who remain depart; this earth belongs to humans. By Brahmā's command, out of respect, the gods went to heaven.
अथ प्रजाः स नृपतिर्धर्मेणावर्धयत्तदा
Then that king caused the people to flourish through righteousness.
प्रजास्तत्सुखसंवृद्धा जरामृ त्युविवर्जिताः
The people, growing in happiness, were free from old age and death.
यौवनस्थाश्च निर्द्वंद्वाः सततं धर्मसंश्रयाः
They remained youthful, free from dualities, always devoted to righteousness.
अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी स्वादवद्भिः फलैर्युता
The earth yielded sweet fruits without being ploughed or sown.
एवं व्रजति काले वै राज्ञि राज्यं प्रकुर्वति
Thus, as time passed, the king continued to rule the kingdom.
प्रजानां बहुदुःखानि मुहुः कुर्वंत्यनेकशः
But the people began to experience many and repeated sufferings.
तथा संह्रियमाणेषु लोकेषु नृपसत्तमः
And as the worlds were being withdrawn, the best of kings—
तेनैवाप्यायितो लोकः सुखी जातो यशस्विनि संवर्त्तो वारिदो भूत्वा मेघान्वै विन्यपातयत्
By him the world was nourished and became happy, O illustrious one; Saṃvartta, becoming a rain-cloud, poured down the rains.
ततस्तु मारुतो भूत्वा नृपतिस्तामधारयत्
Then the king, becoming the wind, sustained that rain.
न यज्ञा न जपो होमो न च पक्तिरवर्त्तत 5.2.74.
No sacrifices, no recitation, no oblation, nor any cooking took place.
ततः स राजा तं दृष्ट्वा त्वभवद्धव्यवाहनः
Then, seeing that, the king became the bearer of offerings.