purvam -- first of all; nirjitya -- conquering; shat-vargam -- the five senses and the mind; jeshyamah -- we will conquer; raja-mantrinah -- the royal ministers; tatah -- then; saciva -- the personal secretaries; paura -- the citizens of the capital; apta -- the friends; kari-indran -- the elephant keepers; asya -- ridding ourselves of; kantakan -- the thorns; evam -- in this way; kramena -- gradually; jeshyamah -- we shall conquer; prithvim -- the earth; sagara -- the ocean; mekhalam -- whose girdle; iti -- thus thinking; asa -- by hopes; baddha -- bound up; hridayah -- their hearts; na pasyanti -- they do not see; antike -- nearby; antakam -- their own end.

"Kings and politicians imagine: 'First I will conquer my senses and mind; then I will subdue my chief ministers and rid myself of the thorn-pricks of my advisors, citizens, friends and relatives, as well as the keepers of my elephants. In this way I will gradually conquer the entire earth.' Because the hearts of these leaders are bound by great expectations, they fail to see death waiting nearby.