यद्बलं तु समाश्रित्य जमदग्निमुनिं नृपः
Relying on whatever strength the king has from the sage Jamadagni,
शीघ्रं निर्गच्छ मन्दात्मन्युद्धं रामाय देहि तत्
Let him quickly come out, O slow-minded one, and give battle to Rāma.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा राजानं श्रुत्वा तस्य वचस्तथा
Having thus spoken, and the king having heard his words accordingly,
तेनैवमुक्तो दूतस्तु गतो हैहयभूपतिम्
Thus addressed, the messenger went to the king of the Haihayas.
स राजात्रेयभक्तस्तु महाबलपराक्रमः
That king, devoted to Atri's descendant, possessed great strength and valor.
मया भुजबलेनैव दत्तदत्तेन मेदिनी
By the power of my own arms alone, with Dattadatta, I have conquered the earth.
तद्बलं मयि वर्त्तेत युद्धं दास्ये तवाधुना
If that strength abides in me, I will now give you battle.
सेनाध्यक्षं समाहूय प्रोवाच वदतां वरः
Calling the commander of the army, the foremost of speakers said:
योत्स्ये रामेण भृगुणा विलंबो मा भवत्विति
I will fight with Rāma, the son of Bhṛgu; let there be no delay.
सैन्यं सज्जं विधायाशु चतुरङ्ग न्यवेदयत्
Having swiftly made the fourfold army ready, he reported it.
सूतोपनीतं स्वरथमारुरोह विशांपते
The lord of men mounted his own chariot, brought by the charioteer.
अनेकाक्षौहिणीयुक्ताः परिवार्योपतस्थिरे
Surrounded by many divisions of troops, they stood ready.
असंख्याता महाराज सैन्ये सागरसन्निभे
Countless, O great king, were the warriors in the army, resembling the ocean.
महावीरा महाकाया नानायुद्धविशारदाः
Great heroes, of mighty form, skilled in various kinds of warfare.
नानालङ्कारसंयुक्ता मत्ता दानविभूषिताः
Adorned with various ornaments, intoxicated, and decorated by the Danavas.
नानाज्ञातिसमुत्पन्ना हयाः पवनरंहसः
Horses of many breeds, swift as the wind, born from diverse lineages.
स्यन्दनानि सुदीर्घाणि जवनाश्वयुतानि च
Chariots, exceedingly long, drawn by fast horses.
पदातयस्तु राजन्ते खड्गचर्मधरा नृप
The foot soldiers shone, O king, bearing swords and shields.
यदा प्रचलितं सैन्यं कार्त्तवीर्यार्जुनस्य वै
When the army of Kartavirya Arjuna began to move.
नानावादित्रनिर्घोषैर्हयानां ह्रेषितैस्तथा
With the sounds of various instruments and the neighing of horses.
मार्गे ददर्श राजेन्द्रो विपरीतानि भूपते
On the road, the king saw many strange omens, O ruler.
मुक्तकेशां छिन्ननासां रुदतीं च दिगंबराम्
A woman with loose hair, a severed nose, weeping and naked.
कुचैलं पतितं भग्नं नग्नं काषायवाससम्
Torn, fallen, broken, naked, and clad in ochre garments.
गोधां च शशकं शल्यं रिक्तकुम्भं सरीमृपम्
A monitor lizard, a hare, a thorn, an empty pot, and a corpse.
स्वदक्षिणे शृगालं च कुर्वन्तं भैर्वं रवम्
On his right, a jackal making a terrifying howl.
दृष्ट्वापि प्रययौ योद्धुं कालपाशावृतो हझात्
Even seeing these, he went forth to fight, bound by the noose of time.
वटच्छायासमासीनो रामो ऽपश्यदुपागतम्
Seated in the shade of a banyan tree, Rama saw him approaching.
सहस्राक्षौहिणीयुक्तं दृष्ट्वा बभूव ह
Seeing him accompanied by a thousand divisions, indeed.
यद्दृष्टिगोचरो जातः कार्तवीर्यो नृपाधमः
Kartavirya, the lowest of kings, entered Rama's field of vision.
व्यञ्जृभतारिनाशायसिंहः क्रुद्धो यथा तथा
Just as an enraged lion appears for the destruction of elephants.