तस्यामात्या गुणैरासत्रिक्ष्वाकोः सुमहात्मनः। मन्त्रज्ञाश्चेङ्गितज्ञाश्च नित्यं प्रियहिते रताः॥ अष्टौ बभूवुर्वीरस्य तस्यामात्या यशस्विनः। शुचयश्चानुरक्ताश्च राजकृत्येषु नित्यशः॥
That high-souled one of Ikşvāku's line had competent counsellors, capable of administering business, of diving into the motives of others, and ever intent upon the good of the monarch. And that heroic king had eight famous Counsellors, pure and devoted to the royal service.
धृष्टिर्जयन्तो विजयः सुराष्ट्रो राष्ट्रवर्धनः। अकोपो धर्मपालश्च सुमन्त्रश्चाष्टमोऽर्थवित्॥
They were, Dhrsti, Jayanta, and Vijaya, and Surăştra, and Răstravardhana, and Akopa and Dharmapala, and Sumantra the cight, conversant with profit.
ऋत्विजौ द्वावभिमतौ तस्यास्तामृषिसत्तमौ। वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च मन्त्रिणश्च तथापरे॥
And he had two family priests beloved to him; viz., those foremost of saints. Vasistha and Vamadeva.
सुयज्ञोऽप्यथ जाबालिः काश्यपोऽप्यथ गौतमः। मार्कण्डेयस्तु दीर्घायुस्तथा का.यायनो द्विजः॥
And he had other counsellors besides, viz; Suyajna, and Javali, and Kasyapa, and Gautama, and the long-lived Markandeya, and the regenerate Katyayana.
एतैर्ब्रह्मर्षिभिनित्यमृत्विजस्तस्य पौर्वकाः। विद्याविनीता हीमन्तः कुशला नियतेन्द्रियाः॥ श्रीमन्तश्च महात्मानः शस्त्रज्ञा दृढविक्रमाः। कीर्तिमन्तः प्रगिहिता यथावचनकारिणः।७।। तेजः क्षमायशः प्राप्ताः स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणः। क्रोधात् कामार्थहेतोर्वा न ब्रुयुरनृतं वचः।८।।
Ever associated in counsel with these Brahmarsis, his priests and counsellors serving the dynasty from father to son, were learned yet modest. and bashful, and conversant with policy, and of subdued-sense, and auspicious, and highsouled, and accomplished in the art of arms, and of high renown, and cautious, and acting according to their word, and possessing energy, forgiveness and fame and ever precluding their speech with a smile, and never committing themselves to a lie either from anger or interest or desire.
तेषामविदितं किंचित् स्वेषु नास्ति परेषु वा। क्रियमाणं कृतं वापि चारेणापि चिकीर्षितम्॥ कुशला व्यवहारेषु सौहृदेषु परीक्षिताः। प्राप्तकालं यथा दण्डं धारयेयुः सुतेष्वपि॥
And they were not unknown to what was done or sought to be done in the midst of their own or a hostile party. And they were adept in intercourse with people, and well-tried in friendship by the monarch.
कोशसंग्रहणे युक्ता बलस्य च परिग्रहे। अहितं चापि पुरुषं न हिंस्युरविदूषकम्॥
And they were ever busy in replenishing the exchequer and in levying troops. And they did not cherish ill will even towards enemies, when innocent.
वीराश्च नियतोत्साहा राजशास्त्रमनुष्ठिताः। शुचीनां रक्षितारश्च नित्यं विषयवासिनाम्॥
And they were heroic, and ever high-spirited, following policy, and protecting those citizens that were pure.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रमहिंसन्तस्ते कोशं समपूरयन्। सुतीक्ष्णदण्डाः सम्प्रेक्ष्य पुरुषस्य बलाबलम्॥
And not bearing ill will towards Brahmaņas and Khatriyas, and filling the treasury, by inflicting punishments according lo the offences of the persons guilty.
शुचीनामेकबुद्धीनां सर्वेषां सम्पजानताम्। नासीत्पुरे वा राष्ट्रे वा मृषावादी नरः क्वचित्॥ क्वचिन्न दुष्टस्तत्रासीत् परटाररतिर्नरः। प्रशान्तं सर्वमेवासीद् राष्ट्र पुरवरं च तत्॥
And during the time when those pure ones of one mind presided over the justice of the kingdom, there was neither in the city nor the provinces any that was a liar, or 'wicked, or going after others' wives. And peace reigned all around the city and the provinces.
सुवाससः सुवेषाश्च ते च सर्वे शुचिव्रताः। हितार्थाश्च नरेन्द्रस्य जाग्रतो नयचक्षुषा॥
And the ministers wore excellent raiment, and ornaments, and were engaged in observing pure Vows, and ever kept their eye of policy open in the interest of the monarch.
गुरोर्गुणगृहीताश्च प्रख्याताश्च पराक्रमैः। विदेशेष्वपि विज्ञाताः सर्वतो बुद्धिनिश्चयाः॥
And the king considered them as crowned with virtues, and they were famed on account of their prowess, concluding unerringly in consequence of their intelligence of other countries. And in all climes and times they could manifest their noble qualities.
अभितो गुणवन्तश्च न चासन् गुणवर्जिताः। संधिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञाः प्रकृत्या सम्पदान्विताः॥
They inculcated noble qualities in all aspects and were not devoid of virtues. And they were cognizant of war and peace, and possessed of goodness, passion and ignorance.
मन्त्रसंवरणे शक्ताः शक्ताः सूक्ष्मासु बुद्धिषु। नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञाः सततं प्रियवादिनः॥
And they could keep their counsel and judge of things finely, and were well-versed in the art of policy, and ever fair-spoken.
ईदृशैस्तैरमात्यैश्च राजा दशरथोऽनघः। उपपन्नो गुणोपेतैरन्वशासत् वसुन्धराम्॥
Surrounded by such counseliors endowed with various qualities, the faultless king Dasaratha ruled the earth.
अवेक्ष्यमाणश्चारेण प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षयन्। प्रजानां पालनं कुर्वनधर्म परिवर्जयन्॥
And gathering intelligence by means of spies, and righteously protecting the subjects, and preserving the people, and not sacrificing his duties.
विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वदान्यः सत्यसंगरः। स तत्र पुरुषव्याघ्रः शशास पृथिवीमिमाम्॥
Famed over the three worlds, and munificent, and linn in promise in battle, the tiger among men ruled over this earth.
नाध्यगच्छद्विशिष्टं वा तुल्यं वा शत्रुमात्मनः। मित्रवानतसामन्तः प्रतापहतकण्टकः। स शशास जगत् राजा दिवि देवपतिर्यथा॥
Nor did he ever meet with a foe that was either his equal or superior. And possessed of friends, and having obedient commanders, and extricating his thorns by his might, that king ruled the earth, even as the lord of celestials rules heaven.
तैर्मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रिहितोनिविष्ठैर्वुतोऽनुरक्तैः कुशलैः समर्थैः। स पार्थिवो दीप्तिमवाप युक्तस्तेजोमयैर्गोभिरिवोदितोऽर्कः॥
And surrounded by those counsellors studious of his welfare, and bearing affection towards him, and clever, and competent, that king, by virtue of his prowess in subduing others, resembled the sun surrounded by his rays.