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.
शिवे विष्णौ न वा भेदो न च ब्रह्ममहेशयोः । तेषां पादरजः पूतं वहाम्यघविनाशनम्
For whom there is no difference between Shiva and Vishnu, nor between Brahma and the great Lord—on my head I bear the dust of their feet, which destroys sin.
गौरी गंगा महालक्ष्मीर्यस्य नास्ति पृथक्तया । ते मंतव्या नराः सर्वे स्वर्गलोकादिहागताः
Those for whom Gauri, Ganga, and Mahalakshmi are not seen as separate—regard all such people as having come here from the heavenly worlds.
शरणागतरक्षी च मानदानपरायणः । यथाशक्ति हरेः प्रीत्यै स ज्ञेयो वैष्णवोत्तमः
One who protects those who seek refuge, who is devoted to giving honor and gifts, and who, to the best of his ability, acts for the pleasure of Hari—know him as the highest Vaishnava.
यस्य नाम महापापराशिं दहति सत्वरम् । तदीय चरणद्वंद्वे भक्तिर्यस्य स वैष्णवः
He whose name swiftly burns away a mountain of great sins, and whose devotion is at the twin feet of that one—he is a Vaishnava.
इंद्रियाणि वशे येषां मनोऽपि हरिचिंतकम् । तान्नमस्कृत्य पूयात्सह्या जन्ममरणांतिकात्
Those whose senses are under control, whose mind is fixed on thoughts of Hari—by bowing to them, one is purified and crosses beyond birth and death.
परस्त्रियं त्वं करवालवत्त्यजन्भवेर्यशोभूषणभूतिभूमिः । एवं ममादेशमथाचरंश्च लभेः परं धाम सुयोगमीड्यम्
You should abandon another's wife as you would a sword; the ground of fame and splendor is in such conduct. Acting thus according to my command, you will attain the supreme, praiseworthy state.
शेष उवाच। एवमाज्ञाप्य भगवान्रामश्चामित्रकर्षणः । वीरानालोकयन्भूयो जगाद शुभया गिरा
Śeṣa said: Thus, having given his command, the blessed Rāma, the subduer of foes, looked again upon the heroes and spoke with auspicious words.
शत्रुघ्नस्य मम भ्रातुर्वाजिरक्षाकरस्य वै । को गंता पृष्ठतो रक्षंस्तन्निदेशप्रपालकः
Who among you will follow behind Śatrughna, my brother, the protector of horses, guarding him and carrying out his instructions?
यः सर्ववीरान्प्रतिमुख्यमागतान्विनिर्जयेन्मर्मभिदस्त्रसंघैः । गृह्णात्वसौ मे करवीटकं तद्भूमौ यशः स्वं प्रथयन्सुविस्तरम्
Whoever defeats all the foremost warriors who have come forth, with bands of those who strike at the vital points, let him take this karavīṭaka from me, spreading his own fame widely upon the earth.
इत्युक्तवति रामे तु पुष्कलो भरतात्मजः । जग्राह वीटकं तस्माद्रघुराजकरांबुजात्
When Rāma had spoken thus, Puṣkala, son of Bharata, took the karavīṭaka from the lotus-hand of the king of the Raghu line.