karoti - one performs; karmāṇi - duties; tapaḥ - in the practice of austerities; su-niṣṭhitaḥ - very fixed; nivṛtta - avoiding; bhogaḥ - sense enjoyment; tat - with that (position which he already has); apekṣayā - in comparison; adadat - assuming; punaḥ - further; ca - and; bhūyāsam - greater; aham - I; sva-rāṭ - sovereign ruler; iti - thus thinking; pravṛddha - rampant; tarṣaḥ - whose urges; na - not; sukhāya - happiness; kalpate - can attain.

A king who desires even greater power than he already has strictly performs his duties, carefully practicing austerity and forgoing sense enjoyment. But he whose urges are so rampant, thinking “I am independent and supreme,” cannot attain happiness.