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 man does not sink into the dreadful ocean of worldly existence.
दमस्य पुत्रस्तत्रासीद्दुर्दमो नाम पार्थिवः
There was a king named Durdama, son of Dama.
हरेत्पुरंध्रीः प्रसभं पौराणां काममोहितः
Overcome by desire, he forcibly took the wives of others in the city.
अदंड्यान्दंडयांचक्रे दंड्येष्वासीत्पराङमुखः
He punished the innocent and turned away from punishing the guilty.
विवासिताः स्वविषयात्तेन सन्मतिदायिनः
Those who gave good counsel were banished from his realm.
परदारेषुसंतुष्टः स्वदारेषु पराङ्मुखः
He was satisfied with the wives of others and indifferent to his own.
हारिणौ सर्वपापानां सर्ववांछितदायिनौ
They were the removers of all sins and givers of all desired things.
स्वप्रजास्वेक उदितो धूमकेतुरिवापरः
Among his subjects, he alone rose like a smokey comet, the other a different one.
स कदाचिन्मृगयुभिः पापर्धि व्यसनातुरः
Once, afflicted by vice and addicted to hunting, he went out with hunters.
एकाकी दैवयोगेन दुर्दमः सोऽवनीपतिः । धन्वी तुरंगमारुढोऽविशदानंदकाननम्
Alone, by the will of fate, that unconquerable lord of the earth, armed with a bow and mounted on a horse, entered the forest of Anandaka.
स विलोक्याथ सर्वत्र पादपा नवकेशिनः 4.2.81.
There, he beheld everywhere the trees adorned with fresh leaves.
सुगंधेन सुशीतेन सुमदेन सुवायुना
With a delightful fragrance, pleasantly cool, gladdening, and carried by a gentle breeze.
केवलं मृगया जातस्तत्खेदो न व्यपाव्रजत्
Yet, though he was engaged only in hunting, that fatigue did not leave him.
अथावरुह्य तुरगात्स भूपालोतिविस्मितः
Then, dismounting from his horse, the king was filled with great wonder.
धन्योस्म्यहं प्रसन्नोस्मि धन्ये मेद्य विलोचने
Blessed am I, content am I, O you with auspicious eyes, I am fortunate.
पुनर्निनिंद चात्मानं धर्मपीठ प्रभावतः
Again, he reproached himself, considering the power of the seat of righteousness.
जंतूद्वेगकरं मूढं प्रजापीडनपंडितम्
A fool, causing distress to creatures, skilled only in oppressing his people.
अद्ययावन्मम गतं वृथाजन्माल्पमेधस
Until today, my life has been wasted, for I am of little understanding.
एवं बहु विनिंद्य स्वं नत्वा धर्मेश्वरं विभुम्
Thus, having reproached himself greatly, he bowed to the Lord of Dharma, the Supreme.
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 granted them means of livelihood.
परिदंड्य च दंडार्हान्साधूंश्च परितोष्य च
He punished those deserving punishment, satisfied the virtuous, and pleased them all around.
समागच्छदथैकाकी काशीं श्रेयोविकासिनीम्
Then, he set out alone and reached Kashi, the city that bestows supreme merit.
धर्मेशदर्शनान्नित्यं तथाभूतः स दुर्दमः
By the constant vision of the Lord of Dharma, that unconquerable one became thus transformed.
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, hears this account of the Lord of Dharma,
श्राद्धकाले विशेषेण धर्मेशाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Especially at the time of Śrāddha, the excellent narration of the Lord of Dharma,
धर्माख्यानमिदं शृण्वन्नपि दूरस्थितः सुधीः
Even one who is far away, if wise, listening to this account of dharma,
परां सिद्धिं परोपतुस्तत्र सिद्धाः परः शताः
There, supreme accomplishment was attained; hundreds of perfected beings gathered.