Thou would'st that I should cast aside
Good faith and truth,--my joy and pride,--
That I may present good secure,
And flee the ills I now endure.
Thou would'st persuade me not to dread
The pains that wait the wicked dead;
Thou would'st that men should all despise,--
With scorn reject as silly lies,--
The earnest words of all who teach
A future life, and duty preach.
Thy words, I know, are kindly meant,
But thou hast failed in thine intent.
As wholesome words at first they sound,
But proved, are false and noxious found.
A show of right they have, but tried,
They cannot reason's test abide.
Believe me, all the good and wise
That foolish, wilful, man despise,
From virtue's path aside who turns,
And all restraints impatient spurns.
By conduct only men we know,
As pure and noble, vile and low;
Their natures we can only test,
As acts those natures manifest.
Should I the sacred books despise,
And act as thou dost now advise,--
Would I not all the world delude
By seeming noble, pure, and good,
'While I was vicious, vile, and base,
A blot upon the royal race?

If virtues garb assuming, I
Should virtue by my deeds deny,
Should lead a base and vicious life,
With order, law, and right at strife,
How could I, leading men astray,
By such a course, from wisdom's way,
Aught else but condemnation stern
From righteous men and sages earn?
By such a course should I not miss
Both present joy, and heavenly bliss?
The kings their subjects' weal who seek
Should never fail the truth to speak;
Whatever promise once they make,
Though tempted, they should never break.
The good examples rulers give
Direct their people how to live;
For common mortals watch the great,
And all their doings imitate.
A righteous King will rule by truth,
And temper, too, his acts with ruth.
When truth abides its guiding law,
Then kingly sway is free from flaw.
Both gods and holy Seers delight,
In those who practice truth and right;
Though such on earth no bliss attain,
The highest future good they gain.

Good faith and truth are virtue's root;
From them abundant blessings shoot.
Truth rules supreme on earth, and nought
Surpassing truth can e'er be thought.
All holy rites, all acts austere,
The sacred books which men revere,--
Which duty's laws and forms disclose,--
These books themselves on truth repose.
Why should I then be led astray
My sire's command to disobey?
No fancied good, no dazzling lure,
My sense of right shall e'er obscure,
Or tempt me under foot to tread
My sacred promise to the dead.

From book of J. Muir; Metrical Translations From Sanskrit writers.