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.
इदं धर्मेश्वराख्यानं यः श्रोष्यति नरोत्तमः
Whoever, O best of men, will hear this account of the Lord of Dharma,
श्राद्धकाले विशेषेण धर्मेशाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Especially at the time of ancestral rites, the supreme account of the Lord of Dharma,
धर्माख्यानमिदं शृण्वन्नपि दूरस्थितः सुधीः
Even one who is far away, if wise, hearing this account of Dharma,
राज्ञ्युवाच अवधेहि धरानाथ कथयामि यथातथम्
The king said: Hear, O Lord of the Earth, I will tell you exactly as it was.
पुरा पुरः श्रीदपत्न्याः श्रीमुख्या ब्रह्मसूनुना
Long ago, in front of the illustrious consort of the Lord of Wealth, the foremost among the beautiful, by the son of Brahma—
चीर्णं चाथ तया देव्या पुत्रोभून्नलकूबरः
Then, having performed austerities by that goddess, Nalakubara was born as her son.
विधिनाप्यत्र संपूज्या गौरी सर्वविधानवित्
Even here, Gauri is to be worshipped according to the prescribed rites by one who knows all rituals.
मार्गशीर्ष तृतीयायां शुक्लायां कलशोपरि
On the third day of the bright fortnight in the month of Margashirsha, upon a pot—
अविच्छिन्नं नवीनं च रजनीरागरंजितम्
Unbroken and new, adorned with night-blooming fragrance and colored,
तस्योपरि शुभं पद्मं रविरश्मिविकासितम्
Upon it, a beautiful lotus, blossoming by the rays of the sun,