यथा तु रोपितो वृक्षः पुरुषेण विवर्धितः। ह्रस्वकेन दुरारोहो रूढस्कन्धो महादुमः॥ स यदा पुष्पितो भूत्वा फलानि न विदर्शयेत्। स तां नानुभवेत् प्रीतिं यस्य हेतोः प्ररोपितः॥ एषोपमा महाबाहो तदर्थ वेत्तुमर्हसि। यत्र त्वमस्मान् वृषभो भर्ता भृत्यान् न शाधि हि॥
yathā tu ropito vṛkṣaḥ puruṣeṇa vivardhitaḥ| hrasvakena durāroho rūḍhaskandho mahādumaḥ|| sa yadā puṣpito bhūtvā phalāni na vidarśayet| sa tāṃ nānubhavet prītiṃ yasya hetoḥ praropitaḥ|| eṣopamā mahābāho tadartha vettumarhasi| yatra tvamasmān vṛṣabho bhartā bhṛtyān na śādhi hi||
English Meaning
As a tree planted by a person, and by him made to increase, (until at last), sending out branches, a mighty tree, it is incapable of being got up by a dwarf; and then if, flowering, it show no fruits, it cannot contribute to the satisfaction of him for whom it has been planted. O mightyarmed one, this comparison is meant for you. This* it behoves you to apprehend, inasmuch as you are our excellent lord, and you do not teach us who depend upon you for support. *The import of the image.
— M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)