उत्तरद्वारि तु मुनी द्वौ द्वितैकत तापसौ । एवं द्वारविधिं कृत्वा वसिष्ठः कलशोद्भवः
At the northern gate, two ascetic sages, united in purpose, were stationed; thus, having arranged the gates, Vasiṣṭha, born from the pot, proceeded.
हयवर्यस्य सत्पूजां कर्तुमारभत द्विज । सुवासिन्यः स्त्रियस्तत्र वासोलंकारभूषिताः
The Brāhmaṇa began to perform the proper worship of the excellent horse; there, the noble women, adorned with garments and ornaments, were present.
हरिद्राक्षतगंधाद्यैः पूजयामासुरर्चितम् । नीराजनं ततः कृत्वा धूपयित्वागुरूक्षणैः
They worshipped the honored one with turmeric, rice, and fragrant substances; then, after performing the waving of lights, they offered incense with aloe wood and other scents.
वर्धापनं ततो वेश्याश्चक्रुस्ता वाडवाज्ञया । एवं संपूज्य विमले भाले चंदनचर्चिते
Then, by the command of the courtesan's mistress, the courtesans performed the ceremony of increasing the horse's strength; thus, having worshipped, they anointed the pure forehead with sandalwood.
कुंकुमादिकगंधाढ्ये सर्वशोभासमन्विते । बबंध भास्वरं पत्रं तप्तहाटकनिर्मितम्
Adorned with the fragrance of saffron and other perfumes, and endowed with every kind of beauty, they tied a shining leaf made of refined gold.
तत्रालिखद्दाशरथेः प्रतापबलमूर्जितम् । सूर्यवंशध्वजो धन्वी धनुर्दीक्षा गुरुर्गुरुः
There they inscribed: 'The banner of the Solar dynasty, the archer, the twice-initiated in archery, the teacher of teachers, the one endowed with the might and power of Dasharatha.'
यं देवाः सासुराः सर्वे नमंति मणिमौलिभिः । तस्यात्मजो वीरबलदर्पहारी रघूद्वहः
All the gods and asuras bow to him, their jeweled crowns lowered; his son, the destroyer of the pride of mighty heroes, the foremost of the Raghus—
रामचंद्रो महाभागः सर्वशूरशिरोमणिः । तन्माता कोसलनृपपत्नीगर्भसमुद्भवा
Rama Chandra, greatly fortunate, the jewel among all valiant men, whose mother was born from the queen of the king of Kosala—
तस्याः कुक्षिभवं रत्नं रामः शत्रुक्षयंकरः । करोति हयमेधं वै ब्राह्मणेन सुशिक्षितः
Rama, the jewel born from her womb, the destroyer of enemies, performs the horse sacrifice, well-instructed by a learned Brahmin.
रावणाभिधविप्रेंद्र वधपापापनुत्तये । मोचितस्तेन वाहानां मुख्योऽसौ वाजिनां वरः
To remove the sin of killing the Brahmin named Ravana, he was released by him; he is the foremost among horses, the best of steeds.
महाबलपरीवार परिखाभिः सुरक्षितः । तद्रक्षकोऽस्ति तद्भ्राता शत्रुघ्नो लवणांतकः
Surrounded by a retinue of great strength, protected by moats, his guardian is his brother, Shatrughna, the destroyer of Lavana.
हस्त्यश्वरथपादात सेनासंघसमन्वितः । यस्य राज्ञ इति श्रेष्ठो मानः स्यात्स्वबलोन्मदात्
Accompanied by troops of elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry, if any king, out of pride in his own strength, considers himself superior—
वयं धनुर्धराः शूराः श्रेष्ठा वयमिहोत्कटाः । ते गृह्णंतु बलाद्वाहं रत्नमालाविभूषितम्
We are archers, valiant and foremost here; let them seize the horse adorned with a garland of jewels, by force if they wish.
मनोवेगं कामजवं सर्वगत्यधिभास्वरम् । ततो मोचयिता भ्राता शत्रुघ्नो लीलया हयम्
Swift as the mind, born of desire, shining in all its movements—then his brother Shatrughna will release the horse with ease.
शरासनविनिर्मुक्त वत्सदंतैः शिखाशितैः
Released from the bowstring, with arrow-sharp teeth and crested heads—
इत्येवमादि विलिलेख महामुनींद्रः । श्रीरामचंद्र भुजवीर्यलसत्प्रतापम् । शोभानिधानमतिचंचलवायुवेगं । पातालभूतलविशेषगतिं मुमोच
Thus, the great sage inscribed these and other things: the splendor of Rama Chandra's mighty arms, the abode of beauty, his speed surpassing the restless wind, and his movement through the depths of the earth and the underworld.
शत्रुघ्नमादिदेशाथ रामः शस्त्रभृतां वरः । याहि वाहस्य रक्षार्थं पृष्ठतः स्वैरगामिनः
Then Rama, the best of those who bear arms, instructed Shatrughna: 'Go for the protection of the horse, following behind as it moves freely.'
शत्रुघ्न गच्छ वाहस्य मार्गं भद्रं भवेत्तव । भवेतां शत्रुविजयौ रिपुकर्षण ते भुजौ
'Shatrughna, go along the horse's path; may you fare well. May your arms, victorious over enemies and subduing foes, prevail.'
ये योद्धारः प्रतिरणगतास्ते त्वया वारणीया-। वाहं रक्ष स्वकगुणगणैः संयुतः सन्महोर्व्याम् । सुप्तान्भ्रष्टान्विगतवसनान्भीतभीतांस्तु नम्रां-। स्तान्मा हन्याः सुकृतकृतिनो येन शंसंति कर्म
'Those warriors who come to battle must be restrained by you. Guard the horse, endowed with your own virtues, on this great earth. Do not kill those who are sleeping, fallen, stripped of clothing, terrified, or bowing—those who have acted well, by whom your deeds are praised.'
विरथा भयसंत्रस्ता ये वदंति वयं तव । ते त्वया न हि हंतव्याः शत्रुघ्न सुकृतैषिणा
'Those who, dismounted and terrified, declare themselves yours—Shatrughna, you who seek virtue, must not slay them.'
यो हन्याद्विमदं मत्तं सुप्तं मग्नं भयातुरम् । तावकोऽहं ब्रुवाणं च स व्रजत्यधमां गतिम्
Whoever kills one who is arrogant, intoxicated, asleep, submerged, terrified, or one declaring, 'I am yours,' goes to the lowest state.
परस्वे चित्तवृत्तिं त्वं मा कृथाः पारदारिके । नीचे रतिं न कुर्वीथाः सर्वसद्गुणपूरितः
Do not let your mind dwell on another's wife; do not seek pleasure with a base woman, but be filled with all noble qualities.
वृद्धानां प्रेरणं पूर्वं मा कुर्वीथा रणं जय । पूज्यपूजातिक्रमं त्वं मा विधेहि दयान्वितः
Do not, in pursuit of victory, incite elders to battle first; do not, out of compassion, violate the order of who should be honored.
गां विप्रं च नमस्कुर्या वैष्णवं धर्मसंयुतम् । अभिवाद्य यतो गच्छेस्तत्र सिद्धिमवाप्नुयाः
You should bow to the cow, the Brahmin, and the devotee of Vishnu who is endowed with righteousness; by honoring them wherever you go, you will attain success there.
विष्णुः सर्वेश्वरः साक्षी सर्वव्यापकदेहभृत् । ये तदीया महाबाहो तद्रूपा विचरंति हि
Vishnu, the Lord of all, is the witness, the bearer of a body pervading everything; those who belong to him, O mighty-armed, indeed move about in his form.
ये स्मरंति महाविष्णुं सर्वभूतहृदि स्थितम् । ते मंतव्या महाविष्णु समरूपा रघूद्वह
Those who remember the great Vishnu, who dwells in the hearts of all beings, should be regarded as having the very form of great Vishnu, O best of Raghu's line.
यस्य स्वीयो न पारक्यो यस्य मित्रसमो रिपुः । ते वैष्णवाः क्षणादेव पापिनं पावयंति हि
For whom there is no distinction between one's own and another's, for whom an enemy is equal to a friend—such Vaishnavas at once purify even a sinner.
येषां प्रियं भागवतं येषां वै ब्राह्मणाः प्रियाः । वैकुंठात्प्रेषितास्तेऽत्र लोकपावनहेतवे
Those for whom the Bhagavata is dear, for whom Brahmins are truly beloved—they are sent from Vaikuntha here for the purpose of purifying the world.
येषां वक्त्रे हरेर्नाम हृदि विष्णुः सनातनः । उदरे विष्णुनैवेद्यः स श्वपाकोऽपि वैष्णवः
In whose mouth is the name of Hari, in whose heart is eternal Vishnu, in whose belly is Vishnu's consecrated food—even a dog-eater like this is a Vaishnava.
येषां वेदाः प्रियतमा न च संसारजं सुखम् । स्वधर्मनिरता ये च तान्नमस्कुर्विहान्वितान्
For whom the Vedas are most beloved, not the pleasures born of worldly life, and who are devoted to their own duty—bow to them with reverence.