पूज्यः स एव भगवान्पुरुषोत्तमसंज्ञकः । नाना पुर्यो मया दृष्टाः सर्वपापक्षयंकराः
He alone is to be worshipped, that Lord known as Puruṣottama. I have seen many sacred places that destroy all sins.
अयोध्या सरयूस्तापी तथा द्वारं हरेः परम् । अवंती विमला कांची रेवा सागरगामिनी
Ayodhyā, the Sarayū, Tāpi, and also the supreme gateway of Hari; Avantī, the pure Kāñcī, and the Revā flowing to the ocean—
गोकर्णं हाटकाख्यं च हत्याकोटिविनाशनम् । मल्लिकाख्यो महाशैलो मोक्षदः पश्यतां नृणाम्
Gokarṇa, the place called Hāṭaka, which destroys countless killings; the great mountain called Mallikā, which grants liberation to those who behold it—
यत्रांगेषु नृणां तोयं श्यामं वा निर्मलं भवेत् । पातकस्यापहारीदं मया दृष्टं तु तीर्थकम्
Wherever, on the limbs of people, the water is dark or pure, that sacred place, which I have seen, removes sin.
मया द्वारवती दृष्टा सुरासुर निषेविता । गोमती यत्र वहति साक्षाद्ब्रह्मजला शुभा
I have seen Dvāravatī, served by gods and demons, where the auspicious Gomati flows, truly water of Brahman.
यत्र स्वापो लयः प्रोक्तो मृतिर्मोक्ष इति श्रुतिः । यस्यां संवसतां नॄणां न कलि प्रभवेत्क्वचित्
Where sleep, dissolution, death, and liberation are proclaimed by the scriptures; where, for those who dwell there, Kali never prevails at all—
चक्रांका यत्र पाषाणा मानवा अपि चक्रिणः । पशवः कीटपक्ष्याद्याः सर्वे चक्रशरीरिणः
Where stones are marked with the discus, and even humans bear the sign of the discus; all creatures—beasts, insects, birds—are marked by the discus.
त्रिविक्रमो वसेद्यस्यां सर्वलोकैकपालकः । सा पुरी तु महापुण्यैर्मया दृग्गोचरीकृता
Where Trivikrama dwells, the sole protector of all worlds; that city, adorned with great merit, has come within my sight.
कुरुक्षेत्रं मया दृष्टं सर्वहत्यापनोदनम् । स्यमंतपंचकं यत्र महापातकनाशनम्
I have seen Kurukṣetra, which removes all killings; and Syamantapañcaka, where even the gravest sins are destroyed.
वाराणसी मया दृष्टा विश्वनाथकृतालया । यत्रोपदिशते मंत्रं तारकं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्
I have seen Vārāṇasī, the abode established by Viśvanātha, where the mantra called Tāraka, bearing the name of Brahman, is imparted.
यस्यां मृताः कीटपतंगभृंगाः पश्वादयो वा सुरयोनयो वा । स्वकर्मसंभोगसुखं विहाय गच्छंति कैलासमतीतदुःखाः
In that place, those who die—whether insects, moths, bees, animals, or even divine beings—abandon the pleasures earned by their deeds and, freed from all suffering, go to Kailāsa.
मणिकर्णिर्यत्र तीर्थं यस्यामुत्तरवाहिनी । करोति संसृतेर्बंधच्छेदं पापकृतामपि
Where the sacred place Maṇikarṇikā is found, where the river flows northward, it severs the bonds of worldly existence, even for those who have committed sin.
कपर्दिनः कुंडलिनः सर्पभूषाधरावराः । गजचर्मपरीधाना वसंति गतदुःखकाः
There dwell those adorned with matted hair, with coiled locks, wearing snake ornaments, clothed in elephant hides, who are free from sorrow.
कालभैरवनामात्र करोति यमशासनम् । न करोति नृणां वार्तां यमो दंडधरः प्रभुः
At the mere name of Kālabhairava, the commands of Yama are rendered void; the lord Yama, wielder of the rod, does not concern himself with the affairs of people.
एतादृशी मया दृष्टा काशी विश्वेश्वरांकिता । अनेकान्यपि तीर्थानि मया दृष्टानि भूमिप
Such is Kāśī, marked by Viśveśvara, as I have seen; and many other sacred places have I seen, O king.
परमेकं महच्चित्रं यद्दृष्टं नीलपर्वते । पुरुषोत्तमसान्निध्ये तन्न क्वाप्यक्षिगोचरम्
But the one supreme, wondrous place I saw on the Nīla mountain, in the presence of Puruṣottama—that is not visible anywhere else.
शेष उवाच। तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य सुरथस्यांगदाननात् । सज्जीभूता रणे सर्वे रथस्था रणकोविदाः
Śeṣa said: Hearing those words spoken by Suratha with a resolute face, all the warriors skilled in battle, standing on their chariots, became ready for war.
पटहानां निनादोऽभूद्भेरीनादस्तथैव च । वीराणां गर्जनानादाः प्रादुर्भूता रणांगणे
There arose the sound of war drums and likewise the blare of trumpets, and the roars of heroes echoed forth on the battlefield.
रथचीत्कारशब्देन गजानां बृंहितेन च । व्याप्तं तत्सकलं विश्वं दिवं यातो महारवः
With the clamor of chariot wheels and the trumpeting of elephants, that great tumult spread throughout the whole world, reaching even the heavens.
रणोत्साहेन संयुक्ता वीरा रणविशारदाः । कुर्वंति विविधान्नादान्कातरस्य भयंकरान्
The warriors, united with battle enthusiasm and skilled in war, made various terrifying sounds to strike fear into the faint-hearted.
एवं कोलाहले वृत्ते सुरथो नाम भूमिपः । स्वसुतैः सैनिकैश्चाथ वृतः प्रायाद्रणांगणे
Amidst such tumult, King Suratha, surrounded by his sons and soldiers, then advanced onto the battlefield.
गजैरथैर्हयैः पत्तिव्रजैः पूर्णां तु मेदिनीम् । कुर्वन्समुद्रइव तां प्लावयन्ददृशे भटैः
With elephants, chariots, horses, and ranks of infantry, he filled the earth, appearing like an ocean overflowing with warriors.
शंखनादेन संघुष्टं जयनादैस्तथैव च । वीक्ष्य तं प्रधनोद्युक्तं सुमतिं प्राह भूमिपः
The field resounded with the blasts of conches and shouts of victory; seeing him thus prepared for the main battle, the king spoke to Sumati.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। एष राजा समायातो महासैन्यपरीवृतः । अत्र यत्कृत्यमस्माकं तद्वदस्व महामते
Śatrughna said: Here comes the king, surrounded by a great army; O wise one, tell us now what we must do in this situation.
सुमतिरुवाच। योद्धव्यमत्र बहुभिर्वीरै रणविशारदैः । पुष्कलादिभिरत्युग्रैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदैः
Sumati said: Here, many valiant warriors, skilled in battle—such as Puṣkala and others, mighty and masters of all weapons—must fight.
राज्ञा सह समीरस्य पुत्रः परमशौर्यवान् । युद्धं करोतु सुबलः परयुद्धविशारदः
Let the son of the wind-god, endowed with supreme valor, fight alongside the king, strong and expert in the art of war.
शेष उवाच। इति ब्रूते महामात्यो यावत्तावन्नृपात्मजाः । रणांगणे धनूंष्यद्धा स्फारयामासुरुद्धताः
Śeṣa said: As the great minister spoke thus, at that very moment the princes on the battlefield drew their bows and stretched them with force.
तान्वीक्ष्य योधाः सुबलाः पुष्कलाद्या रणोत्कटाः । अभिजग्मुः स्यंदनैः स्वैर्धनुर्बाणकरा मताः
Seeing them, the mighty warriors—Puṣkala and others, eager for battle—approached in their own chariots, skilled in the use of bows and arrows.
चंपकेन महावीरः पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित् । द्वैरथेनैव युयुधे महावीरेण शालिना
Puṣkala, the great hero and master of supreme weapons, fought in single combat with the mighty Śālina, accompanied by Campaka.
मोहकं योधयामास जानकिः स कुशध्वजः । रिपुंजयेन विमलो दुर्वारेण सुबाहुकः
Kuśadhvaja, son of Janaka, fought with Mohaka; Vimalā faced Ripumjaya, and Subāhuka engaged Durvāra.