तस्य पुत्रो गुणज्येष्ठः सुकेशिरभवत्ततः
His son, greatest in virtue, was then born as Sukeśa.
प्रादादजेयत्वमपि शत्रुभिश्चाप्यवध्यताम्
He granted him invincibility and immunity from being slain even by enemies.
रेमे निशाचरैः सार्द्धू सदा धर्मपथि स्थितः
He delighted always with the night-dwellers, steadfast on the path of righteousness.
तत्राश्रमांस्तु ददृशो ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम्
There he beheld the hermitages of sages whose souls were purified.
कथयन्तु भवन्तो मे न चौवाज्ञापयाम्यहम्
Let your honors tell me; I do not command you.
केन पूज्यस्तथा सत्सु केनासौ सुखमेधते
By what is one honored among the virtuous, and by what does he attain happiness?
प्रोचुर्विमृस्य श्रेयोर्ऽथमिह लोके परत्र च
They spoke, having considered what is best, both in this world and the next.
यद्धि श्रेयो भवेद् वीर इह चामुत्र चाव्ययम्
Whatever brings the highest good, O hero, both here and hereafter, and is imperishable—
तस्मिन् समाश्रितः सत्सु पूज्यस्तेन सुखी भवेत्
Whoever relies on that among the virtuous is honored by it and becomes happy.
यमाश्रित्य न सीदन्ति देवाद्यास्तु तदुच्यताम्
That by which even the gods and others do not fall—let that be declared.
स्वाध्यायवेदवेत्तृत्वं विष्णुपूजारतिः स्मृता
The knowledge of self-study and the Vedas, and devotion to the worship of Viṣṇu, are said to be such.
वेदनं नीतिशास्त्राणां हरभक्तिरुदाहृता
Understanding of the treatises on ethics and devotion to Hara are also cited.
स्वाध्यायं ब्रह्मविज्ञानं भक्तिर्द्वाभ्यामपि स्थिरा
Steadfastness in self-study and knowledge of Brahman is attained through both of these, as well as through devotion.
सरस्वत्यां स्थिरा भक्तिर्गान्धर्वो धर्म उच्यते
In Sarasvati, devotion is steadfast; the Gandharva path is said to be righteousness.
विद्याधराणां धर्मो ऽयं भवान्यां भक्तिरेव च
For the Vidyadharas, this is righteousness, and in Bhavani, it is solely devotion.
कौशल्यं सर्वशिल्पानां धर्मः किंपुरुषः स्मृतः
Skill in all crafts is considered the righteousness of the Kimpurushas.
सर्वत्र कामचारितवं धर्मो ऽयं पैतृकः स्मृतः
Everywhere, acting according to desire is regarded as the ancestral righteousness.
नियमाद्धर्मवेदित्वमार्थो धर्मः प्रचक्ष्यते
Through discipline, understanding of righteousness is attained; this is called the righteousness of Artha.
अकार्पण्यमनायासं दयाहिंसा क्षमा दमः
Non-miserliness, effortlessness, compassion, non-violence, forgiveness, and self-restraint—
शङ्करे भास्करे देव्यां धर्मो ऽयं मानवः स्मृतः
In Shankara, Bhaskara, and Devi, this is known as human righteousness.
अहङ्कारमशौण्डीर्यं धर्मो ऽयं गुह्यकेष्विति
Pride and lack of humility are said to be the righteousness among the Guhyakas.
स्वाध्यायं त्र्यम्बके भक्तिर्धर्मो ऽयं राक्षसः स्मृतः
Self-study and devotion to Tryambaka are considered the righteousness of the Rakshasas.
पिशाचानामयं धर्मः सदा चामिषगृध्नुता
For the Pisachas, this is righteousness: always being greedy for flesh.
ब्रह्मणा कथिताः पुण्या द्वादशैव गतिप्रदाः
These twelve meritorious paths, bestowing progress, were declared by Brahma.
तत्र ये मानवा धर्मास्तान् भूयो वक्तुमर्हथ
Among these, you ought to speak again of those human righteousnesses.
ये वसन्ति महीपृष्ठे नरा द्वीपेषु सप्तसु
Those men who dwell upon the earth, on the seven islands—
जलोपरि महीयं हि नौरिवास्ते सरिज्जले
Upon the waters, the earth indeed rests, like a boat upon a river.
कर्णिकाकारमत्युच्चं स्थापयामास सत्त्म
He established the abode, exceedingly high and shaped like a lotus core.
स्थानानि द्वीपसंज्ञानि कृतवांश्च प्रजापतिः
The Lord of creatures made the places known as islands.
तल्लक्षं योजनानां च प्रमाणेन निगद्यते
Their extent, measured in yojanas, is now described.