धर्मेशाद्दक्षिणे पूज्यं तत्त्वेशाख्यं परं नरैः
To the south of the Lord of Dharma, people should worship the supreme one called the Lord of Principles.
धर्मेशात्पूर्वदिग्भागे वैराग्येशं समर्चयेत्
In the eastern direction from the Lord of Dharma, one should worship the Lord of Dispassion.
ज्ञानेश्वरं तथैशान्यां ज्ञानदं सर्वदेहिनाम्
Likewise, in the northeast, the Lord of Knowledge, giver of wisdom to all beings.
तद्दर्शनाद्भवेन्नृणामैश्वर्यं मनसेप्सितम्
From seeing him, people obtain the sovereignty their minds desire.
एतान्यवश्यं संसेव्य नरः प्राप्नोति शाश्वतम्
By surely serving these, a person attains the eternal.
यच्छ्रुत्वापि नरो घोरे संसाराब्धौ न मज्जति 4.2.81.
Even by hearing this, a person does not sink in the dreadful ocean of worldly existence.
दमस्य पुत्रस्तत्रासीद्दुर्दमो नाम पार्थिवः
There, Damā's son was a king named Durdama.
हरेत्पुरंध्रीः प्रसभं पौराणां काममोहितः
Overcome by desire and delusion, he forcibly took the wives of others in the city.
अदंड्यान्दंडयांचक्रे दंड्येष्वासीत्पराङमुखः
He punished the innocent, while turning away from those who deserved punishment.
विवासिताः स्वविषयात्तेन सन्मतिदायिनः
Those who gave good counsel were exiled from his realm.
परदारेषुसंतुष्टः स्वदारेषु पराङ्मुखः
He was satisfied with others' wives, but indifferent to his own.
हारिणौ सर्वपापानां सर्ववांछितदायिनौ
They were the removers of all sins, givers of all desired things.
स्वप्रजास्वेक उदितो धूमकेतुरिवापरः
Among his subjects, he alone shone forth, while another was like a comet.
स कदाचिन्मृगयुभिः पापर्धि व्यसनातुरः
Once, afflicted by vice and addicted to hunting, he went out with hunters.
एकाकी दैवयोगेन दुर्दमः सोऽवनीपतिः । धन्वी तुरंगमारुढोऽविशदानंदकाननम्
That king Durdama, alone by the will of fate, armed with a bow and mounted on a horse, entered a dense forest.
स विलोक्याथ सर्वत्र पादपा नवकेशिनः 4.2.81.
There, he saw everywhere trees with fresh shoots.
सुगंधेन सुशीतेन सुमदेन सुवायुना
With a fragrance, a coolness, a sweet intoxication, and a pleasant breeze,
केवलं मृगया जातस्तत्खेदो न व्यपाव्रजत्
He had only engaged in hunting, and that fatigue did not depart.
अथावरुह्य तुरगात्स भूपालोतिविस्मितः
Then, dismounting from his horse, that king was greatly astonished.
धन्योस्म्यहं प्रसन्नोस्मि धन्ये मेद्य विलोचने
I am blessed, I am content, O blessed one with beautiful eyes!
पुनर्निनिंद चात्मानं धर्मपीठ प्रभावतः
Again he reproached himself, because of the power of the seat of righteousness.
जंतूद्वेगकरं मूढं प्रजापीडनपंडितम्
A fool, causing distress to creatures, skilled in oppressing his subjects—
अद्ययावन्मम गतं वृथाजन्माल्पमेधस
Until today, my birth has been in vain, I who possess little wisdom.
एवं बहु विनिंद्य स्वं नत्वा धर्मेश्वरं विभुम्
Thus, having greatly reproached himself, he bowed to the Lord of Dharma, the mighty one.
ततोमात्यान्समाहूय क्रमायातांश्चिरंतनान् 4.2.81.
Then, summoning his ministers, those who had come in succession from ancient times,
ब्राह्मणांश्चनमस्कृत्य तेभ्यो वृत्तीः प्रदाय च
And having bowed to the Brahmins, he gave them means of livelihood.
परिदंड्य च दंडार्हान्साधूंश्च परितोष्य च
He punished those deserving punishment, satisfied the virtuous, and
समागच्छदथैकाकी काशीं श्रेयोविकासिनीम्
Then he set out alone for Kashi, the city where virtue flourishes.
धर्मेशदर्शनान्नित्यं तथाभूतः स दुर्दमः
From seeing the Lord of Dharma, he was ever thus—difficult to restrain.
इत्थं धर्मेश माहात्म्यं मया स्वल्पं निरूपितम्
Thus, I have briefly described the greatness of the Lord of Dharma.