The crime of those who swear to fee,

At holy rites, some devotee,

And then the promised gift deny,

Be his who willed the prince should fly.

When weapons clash and heroes bleed,

With elephant and harnessed steed,

Ne'er, like the good, be his to fight

Whose heart allowed the prince's flight.

Though taught with care by one expert

May he the Veda's text pervert,