King Nami, having been created as a man, put an end to the influence of delusion, and was moved to remember his duty to his Lord. (1)

Awakened thus, King Nami became enlightened of himself in the true Law, and placing his son on the throne he retired from the world. (2)

After having enjoyed, in the company of the beautiful ladies of his seraglio, excellent pleasures which match those of the Garden, king Nami became enlightened and gave up his pleasures. (3)

Having given up the town and country of Mithila, his army, seraglio, and all his retinue, the venerable man retired from the world and resorted to a lonely place. (4)

When the royal seer Nami retired from the world, at the occasion of his Pravrajya there was an uproar in Mithila. (5)

To the royal seer who had reached the excellent stage of Pravrajya, Sakra, the chief of the angels, in the guise of a Brahmana addressed the following words: (6)

"Why is now Mithila full of uproar? Dreadful noises are heard from palaces and houses." (7)

On hearing this, the royal seer Nami, pursuing his reasons and arguments, answered the chief of the angels thus: (8)

"In Mithila is the tree Manorama, full of leaves, flowers, and fruits, which sheds a cool shadow; this tree is always a favourite resort of many birds. (9)

"Now, as this tree Manorama is shaken by the storm, the birds, suffering, destitute of refuge, and miserable, scream aloud." (10)

On hearing this, the chief of the angels, pursuing his reasons and arguments, answered the royal seer Nami thus: (11)

"This is fire and storm, your palace is on fire! Reverend sir, why do you not look after your seraglio?" (12)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (13)

"Happy are we, happy live we who call nothing our own; when Mithila is on fire, nothing is burned that belongs to me. (14)

"To a monk who has left his sons and wives, and who has ceased to act, nothing pleasant can occur, nor anything unpleasant. (15)

"There is much happiness for the sage, for the houseless monk, who is free from all ties, and knows himself to be single and unconnected with the rest of the world." (16)

The angel answered (see verse 11): (17)

"Erect a wall, gates, and battlements; dig a moat; construct sataghnis: then you will be a Kshattriya." (18)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (19)

"Making Faith his fortress, Penance and Self-control the bolt of its gate, Patience its strong wall, so that guarded in three ways it is impregnable; making Zeal his bow, its string Carefulness in walking, and its top where the string is fastened Content, he should bend this bow with Truth, piercing with the arrow, Penance, the foe's mail, sin: in this way a sage will be the victor in battle and get rid of worldly bondage." (20-22)

The angel answered (see verse 11): (23)

"Build palaces, excellent houses, and turrets; thus you will be a Kshattriya." (24)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (25)

"He who builds his house on the road, will certainly get into trouble; wherever he wants to go, there he may take up his lodgings." (26)

The angel answered (see verse 11): (27)

"Punishing thieves and robbers, cut-purses and burglars, you should establish public safety; thus you will be a Kshattriya." (28)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (29)

"Men frequently apply punishment wrongly: the innocent are put in prison, and the perpetrator of the crime is set at liberty." (30)

The angel answered (see verse 11): (31)

"O king, bring into subjection all princes who do not acknowledge you; thus you will be a true Kshattriya." (32)

Nami answered (see verse 8): (33)

"Though a man should conquer thousands and thousands of valiant foes, greater will be his victory if he conquers nobody but himself. (34)

"Fight with your self; why fight with external foes? He who conquers himself through himself, will obtain happiness. (35)

"The five senses, anger, pride, delusion, and greed: difficult to conquer is one's self; but when that is conquered, everything is conquered." (36)

The angel answered (see verse 11): (37)

"Offer great sacrifices, feed Sramanas and Brahmanas, give alms, enjoy yourself, and offer sacrifices: thus you will be a true Kshattriya." (38)

Nami answered: (39)

"Though a man should give, every month, thousands and thousands of cows, better will be he who controls himself, though he give no alms." (40)

The angel answered: (41)

"You have left the dreadful stage of the householder and are wanting to enter another; remain what you were, O king, and be content with observing the fast-days." (42)

Nami answered: (43)

"If an ignorant man should eat but a blade of Kusa-grass every month, the merit of his penance will not equal the sixteenth part of his who possesses the Law as it has been taught." (44)

The angel answered: (45)

"Multiply your gold and silver, your jewels and pearls, your copper, fine robes, and carriages, and your treasury; then you will be a true Kshattriya." (46)

Nami answered: (47)

"If there were numberless mountains of gold and silver, as big as Kailasa, they would not satisfy a greedy man; for his avidity is boundless like space. (48)

"Knowing that the earth with its crops of rice and barley, with its gold and cattle, that all this put together will not satisfy one single man, one should practise austerities." (49)

The angel answered: (50)

"A miracle! O king, you give up those wonderful pleasures, in search of imaginary objects; your very hope will cause your ruin." (51)

Nami answered: (52)

"Pleasures are the thorn that rankles, pleasures are poison, pleasures are like a venomous snake; he who is desirous of pleasures will not get them, and will come to a bad end at last. (53)

"He will sink through anger; he will go down through pride; delusion will block up his path; through greed he will incur dangers in both worlds." (54)

Throwing off the guise of a Brahmana, and making visible his true form, Sakra saluted him respectfully and praised him with these sweet words: (55)

"Bravo! you have conquered anger; bravo! you have vanquished pride; bravo! you have banished delusion; bravo! you have subdued greed. (56)

"Bravo for your simplicity, O saint! bravo for your humility, O saint! bravo for your perfect patience! bravo for your perfect liberation! (57)

"Here on earth you are the highest man, Reverend sir, and hereafter you will be the highest; exempt from all blemishes you will reach salvation, a higher state than which there is none." (58)

Thus praising the royal seer, Sakra in perfect faith paid him respect, again and again. (59)

After having honoured the best of sages, he flew up through the air, with his crown and his earrings prettily trembling. (60)

Nami humbled himself; inspired by the angel in person, the king of Videha left the house, and took upon him Sramanahood. (61)

Thus act the enlightened, the wise, the clever ones; they turn away from pleasures, as did Nami, the royal seer. (62)

Thus I say.