एवं गार्हस्थ्यमाश्रित्य वानप्रस्थाश्रमं व्रजेत् । सस्त्रीको वा गतस्त्रीको विरज्येत ततः परम्
Thus, having fulfilled the duties of a householder, one should proceed to the forest-dweller stage, either with one's wife or alone, renouncing all else thereafter.
इत्येवमादयो धर्मा गदिता ऋषिभिस्तदा । श्रुता रामेण महता सर्वलोकहितैषिणा
Thus, these duties were spoken by the sages at that time, and were heard by the great Rāma, who desired the welfare of all worlds.
शेष उवाच। इत्थं संशृण्वतो धर्मान्वसंतः समुपस्थितः । यत्र यज्ञ क्रियादीनां प्रारंभः सुमहात्मनाम्
Śeṣa said: While he was listening to these duties, the season arrived for commencing the sacrifices and rituals of the great souls.
दृष्ट्वा तं समयं धीमान्वसिष्ठः कलशोद्भवः । रामचंद्रं महाराजं प्रत्युवाच यथोचितम्
Seeing that time, the wise Vasiṣṭha, born from a pot, appropriately addressed King Rāma.
वसिष्ठ उवाच। रामचंद्र महाबाहो समयः पर्यभूत्तव । हयो यत्र प्रमुच्येत यज्ञार्थं परिपूजितः
Vasiṣṭha said: O Rāma, mighty-armed one, the time has come for you to release the horse, honored for the sake of the sacrifice.
सामग्री क्रियतां तत्र आहूयंतां द्विजोत्तमाः । करोतु पूजां भगवान्ब्राह्मणानां यथोचिताम्
Let the necessary materials be prepared there; let the best of the twice-born be summoned; let the Lord perform the proper worship of the brāhmaṇas.
दीनांधकृपणानां च दानं स्वांते समुत्थितम् । ददातु विधिवत्तेषां प्रतिपूज्याधिमान्य च
Let one give, with proper respect and honor, gifts that arise from one's own heart to the poor, the blind, and the destitute, according to prescribed rules.
भवान्कनकसत्पत्न्या दीक्षितोऽत्र व्रतं चर । भूमिशायी ब्रह्मचारी वसुभोगविवर्जितः
You, consecrated here with a noble wife and gold, should observe the vow: sleeping on the ground, practicing celibacy, and abstaining from enjoyment of wealth.
मृगशृंगधरः कट्यां मेखलाजिनदंडभृत् । करोतु यज्ञसंभारं सर्वद्रव्यसमन्वितम्
Let him wear a girdle of deer horn at his waist, carry a staff and a skin, and prepare all the necessary materials for the sacrifice, complete with every required item.
इति श्रुत्वा महद्वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य यथार्थकम् । उवाच लक्ष्मणं धीमान्नानार्थपरिबृंहितम्
Hearing these great and truthful words of Vasiṣṭha, the wise one addressed Lakṣmaṇa, speaking words filled with many meanings.
श्रीराम उवाच। शृणु लक्ष्मण मद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा तत्कुरु सत्वरम् । हयमानय यत्नेन वाजिमेधक्रियोचितम्
Śrī Rāma said: Listen, Lakṣmaṇa, to my words, and having heard them, act quickly: bring the horse with care, as is proper for the Aśvamedha sacrifice.
शेष उवाच। श्रुत्वा वाक्यं रघुपतेः शत्रुजिल्लक्ष्मणस्तदा । सेनापतिमुवाचेदं वचो विविधवर्णनम्
Śeṣa said: Hearing the words of Rāma, conqueror of enemies, Lakṣmaṇa then addressed the commander of the army with these variously adorned words.
लक्ष्मण उवाच। वीराकर्णय मे वचः सुमधुरं श्रुत्वा त्वरातः पुनः । कार्यं तत्क्षितिपालमौलिमुकुटैर्घृष्टांघ्रि रामाज्ञया । सेनां कालबलप्रभंजनबलप्रोद्यत्समर्थांगिनीं । सज्जां सद्रथहस्तिपत्तिसुहयारोहैर्विधे ह्यन्विताम्
Lakṣmaṇa said: Heroes, listen to my words, very sweet; having heard, act swiftly again. By Rāma's command, prepare the army, whose feet are honored by the crowns of kings, strong with the power of time and wind, ready with chariots, elephants, infantry, and horses, all equipped with riders.
सज्जीयतां वायुजवास्तुरंगास्तरंगमाला ललितांघ्रिपाताः । सदश्वचारैर्बहुशस्त्रधारिभिः संरोहिता वैरिबलप्रहारिभिः
Let the horses, swift as the wind, be readied, their steps graceful; let them be surrounded by skilled riders, many bearing weapons, able to strike down the enemy's forces.
संलक्ष्यतां हस्तिनः पर्वताभा आधोरणैः प्रासकुंताग्रहस्तैः । शूरैः सास्त्रैर्भूरिदानोपहाराः क्षीबाणस्ते सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूर्णाः
Let the elephants, mountain-like in form, be observed, with their lower parts adorned, bearing spears and javelins in hand; let the brave, armed with weapons, bring abundant gifts, and let the archers be ready, filled with all kinds of weapons and missiles.
विततबहुसमृद्धिभ्राजमाना रथा मे पवनजवनवेगैर्वाजिभिर्युज्यमानाः । विविधरिपुविनाशस्मारकैरायुधास्त्रैर्भृतवलभिविभागानीयतां सूतवृंदैः
Let my chariots, shining with great wealth and splendor, be yoked with horses swift as the wind; let them be brought by groups of charioteers, equipped with various weapons and missiles for destroying all kinds of enemies, and divided into appropriate formations.
पत्तयः शतशो मह्यमायांत्वस्त्राग्न्यपाणयः । हयमेधार्हवाहस्य रक्षणे विततोद्यमाः
Let hundreds of infantry come to me, unarmed with fire-weapons, fully prepared for the protection of the horse fit for the Aśvamedha.
इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य लक्ष्मणस्य महात्मनः । सेनानी कालजिन्नामा कारयामास सज्जताम्
Hearing these words of the great-souled Lakṣmaṇa, the commander named Kālajin began to make everything ready.
दशध्रुवकमंडितो लघुसुरोमशोभान्वितो विविक्तगलशुक्तिभृद्विततकंठको शेमणिः मुखे विशदकांतिधृत्त्वसितकांतिभृत्कर्णयोर्व्यराजत तदाह यो धृतकराग्ररश्मिच्छटः
Adorned with ten fixed ornaments, possessing the beauty of fine, soft hair, bearing a necklace of selected shells around its well-formed neck, and with a face radiant with clear brightness, the horse shone, its ears dark and lustrous, and its forelocks gleaming with rays of light.
कलासंशोभितमुखः स्फुरद्रत्नविशोभितः । मुक्ताफलानां मालाभिः शोभितो निर्ययौ हयः
Its face was adorned with crescent-shaped marks, sparkling with shining jewels, and decorated with garlands of pearls; thus, the horse set out.
श्वेतातपत्ररचितः सितचामरशोभितः । बहुशोभापरीतांगो निर्ययौ हयराट्ततः
Adorned with a white parasol and beautiful white fly-whisks, its body covered with many splendid ornaments, the king of horses then set forth.
अग्रतो मध्यतश्चैके पृष्ठतः सैनिकास्तथा । देवा हरिं यथापूर्वं सेवंते सेवनोचितम्
Soldiers stood in front, in the middle, and behind, just as the gods once served Hari in the past, in a manner appropriate for service.
अथ सैन्यं समाहूय सर्वमाज्ञापयत्तदा । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातवृन्दैः सुबहुसंकुलम्
Then, having summoned the entire army, he gave orders at that time; the hosts of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry were assembled in great numbers.
ततस्ततः समेतानां सैन्यानां श्रूयते ध्वनिः । ततो दुंदुभिनादोऽभूत्तस्मिन्पुरवरे तदा
Then, from the assembled armies, a sound arose; at that time, in that excellent city, the sound of drums was heard.
तन्निनादेन शूराणां प्रियेण महता तदा । कंपंति गिरिशृंगाणि प्रासादा विचलंति च
At that time, by the beloved and mighty sound of the heroes, the mountain peaks trembled and the palaces shook.
हेषारवो महानासीद्वाजिनां मुह्यतां नृप । रथांगघातसंघुष्टा धरा संचलतीव सा
A great neighing arose from the horses, bewildering the king; the earth seemed to move, resounding with the clatter of chariot wheels.
चलितैर्गजयूथैश्च पृथ्वी रुद्धा समंततः । रजस्तु प्रचलत्तत्र जनांतर्द्धानमादधात्
With the herds of elephants moving about, the earth was blocked on all sides; there, the dust stirred and concealed the people.
निर्जगाम महासैन्यं छत्रैः संछाद्य भास्करम् । सेनान्याकालजिन्नाम्ना प्रेरितं जनसंकुलम्
The vast army marched forth, covering the sun with its banners; commanded by the general named Kālajin, it was crowded with people.
गर्जंतस्तलवीराग्र्याः कुर्वंतो रणसंभ्रमम् । रघुनाथस्य यागाय सज्जास्ते प्रययुर्मुदा
The foremost warriors, roaring and creating tumult for battle, joyfully proceeded, prepared for Raghunātha’s sacrifice.
मृगमदमयमंगेष्वंगरागं दधानाः कुसुमविमलमालाशोभितस्वोत्तमांगाः । मुकुटकटकभूषाभूषितांगाः समस्ताः प्रययुरवनिनाथप्रेरितास्तेऽपि सर्वे
Adorned with fragrant musk on their limbs, wearing pure garlands of flowers, their heads shining, all were decorated with crowns and bracelets; sent by the lord of the earth, they too all departed.