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.
प्रतापिना प्रतापाग्र्यो बलमोदेन चांगदः । हर्यक्षेण नीलरत्नः सहदेवेन सत्यवान्
Aṃgada, foremost in valor, fought with Pratāpina and Balamoda; Nīlaratna with Haryakṣa, and Satyavān with Sahadeva.
राजा वीरमणिर्भूरि देवेन युयुधे बली । असुतापेन चोग्राश्वो युयुधे बलसंयुतः
King Vīramaṇi, powerful in battle, fought with Bhūrīdeva; Ugrāśva, endowed with strength, fought with Asutāpa.
द्वैरथं तु महद्युद्धमकुर्वन्युद्धकोविदाः । सर्वे शस्त्रास्त्रकुशलाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः
All these experts in war, skilled in weapons and missiles, engaged in great single combats, each displaying mastery in battle.
एवं प्रवृत्ते संग्रामे सुरथस्य सुतैस्तदा । अत्यंतं कदनं तत्र बभूव मुनिसत्तम
Thus, when the battle commenced with Suratha’s sons, O best of sages, a terrible slaughter took place there.
पुष्कलश्चंपकं प्राह किं नामासि नृपात्मज । धन्योसि यो मया सार्धं रणमध्यमुपेयिवान्
Puṣkala spoke to Caṃpaka: 'What is your name, prince? Fortunate are you, who have entered the midst of battle with me.'
इदानीं तिष्ठ किं यासि कथं ते जीवितं भवेत् । एहि युद्धं मया सार्धं सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविद
Now stand your ground—why do you flee? How will you preserve your life? Come, fight with me, you who are skilled in all weapons and missiles.
इत्यभिव्याहृतं तस्य श्रुत्वा राजात्मजो बली । जगाद पुष्कलं वीरो मेघगंभीरया गिरा
Hearing these words, the mighty prince replied to Puṣkala, his voice deep as thunder.
चंपक उवाच। न नाम्ना न कुलेनेदं युद्धमत्र भविष्यति । तथापि तव वक्ष्येऽहं स्वनामबलपूर्वकम्
Caṃpaka said: 'Here, battle is not determined by name or lineage. Yet, I will tell you my name and strength.'
मम माता राघवेशो मत्पिता राघवः स्मृतः । मम बंधू रामचंद्र स्वःजनो मम राघवः
My mother is devoted to Rāghava; my father is known as Rāghava; my kinsman is Rāmacandra; my own people are Rāghava.
मन्नाम रामदासश्च सदा रामस्य सेवकः । तारयिष्यति मां युद्धे रामो भक्तकृपाकरः
My name is Rāmadāsa, ever a servant of Rāma. Rāma, the ocean of compassion for his devotees, will deliver me in battle.