तेऽनुज्ञां रघुनाथस्य प्राप्य मोदं प्रपेदिरे । चिरकालं सांपरायं वांच्छंतो युद्धदुर्मदाः
Receiving Raghunatha's permission, those eager for battle rejoiced, long desiring a great war.
सन्नद्धाः कवचाद्यैश्च तथा शस्त्रास्त्रवर्तनैः । ययुः शत्रुघ्नसंवासं सीतापति प्रणोदिताः
Fully armed with armor and weapons, urged by the lord of Sita, they went to join Shatrughna.
शेष उवाच। अथोक्त ऋषिणा रामो विधिना पूजयत्क्रमात् । आचार्यादीनृषीन्सर्वान्यथोक्तवरदक्षिणैः
Shesha said: Then Rama, as instructed by the sage, duly honored the teachers and all the sages with the prescribed gifts and rewards.
आचार्याय ददौ रामो हस्तिनं षष्टिहायनम् । हयमेकं मनोवेगं रत्नमालाविभूषितम्
Rama gave to the teacher an elephant sixty years old, a horse swift as the mind, adorned with a garland of jewels.
पौरटं रथमेकं च मणिरत्नविभूषितम् । चतुर्भिर्वाजिभिर्युक्तं सर्वोपस्करसंयुतम्
A city chariot, adorned with jewels and gems, yoked to four steeds, equipped with all accessories.
मणिलक्षं तु प्रत्यक्षं मुक्ताफलतुलाशतम् । विद्रुमस्य तुलानां तु सहस्रं स्फुटतेजसाम्
A hundred thousand jewels, a hundred scales of pearl fruits, and a thousand scales of radiant coral.
ग्राममेकं सुसंपन्नं नानाजनसमाकुलम् । विचित्रसस्यनिष्पन्नं विविधैर्मंदिरैर्वृतम्
A single prosperous village, crowded with people of many kinds, yielding diverse crops, surrounded by various mansions.
ब्रह्मणेऽपि तथैवादाद्धोत्रेऽप्यध्वर्यवे ददौ । ऋत्विग्भ्यो भूरिशो दत्त्वा प्रणनाम रघूत्तमः
He likewise gave to the Brahmin, to the Hotṛ, and to the Adhvaryu; having given abundantly to the officiating priests, the best of the Raghu lineage bowed.
सर्वे ते विविधा वाग्भिराशीर्भिरभिपूजिताः । चिरंजीव महाराज रामचन्द्र रघूद्वह
All of them, honored with various words and blessings, said: 'Live long, O great king Rāmacandra, glory of the Raghus.'
कन्यादानं भूमिदानं गजदानं तथैव च । अश्वदानं स्वर्णदानं तिलदानं समौक्तिकम्
The giving of daughters, land, elephants, likewise horses, gold, sesame, and pearls.
अन्नदानं पयोदानमभयं दानमुत्तमम् । रत्नदानानि सर्वाणि विप्रेभ्यश्चादिशन्महान्
The giving of food, milk, fearlessness, the highest gifts, and all kinds of jewels, he instructed to be given to the Brāhmins.
देहि देहि धनं देहि मानेति ब्रूहि कस्यचित् । ददात्वन्नं ददात्वन्नं सर्वभोगसमन्वितम्
Give, give, give wealth, honor—say this to anyone; let him give food, let him give food, with all enjoyments included.
इत्थं प्रावर्तत मखो रघुनाथस्य धीमतः । सदक्षिणो द्विजवरैः पूर्णः सर्वशुभक्रियः
Thus the sacrifice of the wise Raghunātha commenced, complete with proper offerings, performed by excellent Brāhmins, fulfilling all auspicious rites.
अथ रामानुजो गत्वा मातरं प्रणनाम ह । आज्ञापयाश्वरक्षार्थमेष गच्छामि शोभने
Then Rāma's younger brother went and bowed to his mother, saying: 'O beautiful one, I go now for the protection of the horse, by your command.'
त्वत्कृपातो रिपुकुलं जित्वा शोभासमन्वितः । आयास्यामि महाराजैर्हयवर्यसमन्वितः
By your grace, having conquered the enemy clans, adorned with glory, I shall return, accompanied by great kings and noble horses.
मातोवाच । पुत्र गच्छ महावीर शिवाः पंथान एव ते । सर्वान्रिपुगणाञ्जित्वा पुनरागच्छ सन्मते
Mother spoke: 'Go, my son, mighty hero, your paths are auspicious; having conquered all groups of enemies, return again, O wise one.'
पुष्कलं पालय निजभ्रातृजं धर्मवित्तमम् । महाबलिनमद्यापि बालकं लीलयायुतम्
Protect Puṣkala, your own brother's son, who knows dharma, is very strong, still a child, full of playfulness.
पुत्रागच्छसि चेद्युक्तः पुष्कलेन शुभान्वितः । तदा मम प्रमोदः स्यादन्यथा शोकभागहम्
If you return, accompanied by Puṣkala and blessed, then my joy will be; otherwise, I shall be afflicted by sorrow.
इति संभाष्यमाणां स्वां मातरं प्रत्युवाच सः । त्वदीयचरणद्वंद्वं स्मरन्प्राप्स्यामि शोभनम्
Thus addressed, he replied to his mother: 'Remembering your pair of feet, I shall attain auspiciousness.'
पुष्कलं पालयित्वाहं निजांगमिव शोभने । स्वनामसदृशं कृत्वा पुनरेष्यामि मोदवान्
Having protected Puṣkala as my own limb, O beautiful one, making him worthy of my name, I shall return again, full of joy.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ वीरो रामं स मखमंडपे । आसीनं मुनिवर्याग्र्यैर्यज्ञवेषधरं वरम्
Having spoken thus, the hero went to Rāma in the sacrificial pavilion, seated among foremost sages, wearing the attire of sacrifice, the excellent one.
उवाच मतिमान्वीरः सर्वशोभासमन्वितः । रामाज्ञापय रक्षार्थं हयस्यानुज्ञया तव
The wise hero, adorned with all glory, spoke: 'Rāma, command me for the protection of the horse, with your permission.'
रघुनाथोऽपि तच्छ्रुत्वा भद्रमस्त्विति चाब्रवीत् । बालं स्त्रियं प्रमत्तं त्वं मा हन्याः शस्त्रवर्जितम्
Raghunatha, having heard this, replied, 'Let there be well-being.' And he said, 'Do not kill a child, a woman, or one who is intoxicated, nor anyone unarmed.'
तदा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्भ्राता जानक्या जनकात्मजः । प्रहस्य किंचिन्नयने नर्तयन्राममब्रवीत्
Then Lakshminidhi, the brother of Janaki's son, smiled and, with a slight movement of his eyes, spoke to Rama.
लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच। रामचंद्र महाबाहो सर्वधर्मपरायण । शत्रुघ्नं शिक्षय तथा यथा लोकोत्तरो भवेत्
Lakshminidhi said: 'Rama, mighty-armed, devoted to all righteousness, instruct Shatrughna in such a way that he may become extraordinary among men.'
कुलोचितं कर्म कुर्वन्नग्रजाचरितं तथा । गच्छेत्स परमं धाम तेजोबलसमन्वितम्
By performing deeds appropriate to his lineage, and following the conduct of his elder brother, he will attain the supreme abode, endowed with brilliance and strength.
त्वया प्रोक्तं महाराज ब्राह्मणं नावमानयेत् । पित्रा तव हतो विप्रः पितृभक्तिपरायणः
O great king, as you have said, a Brahmin must not be disrespected; your father, devoted to filial piety, killed a Brahmin.
त्वयापि सुमहत्कर्म कृतं लोकविगर्हितम् । अवध्यां महिलां यस्त्वं हतवान्नियतं ततः
You too have performed a great act, though condemned by the world, for you certainly killed a woman who was not to be slain.
अग्रजोऽस्य महाराज कृतवान्यं पराक्रमम् । सनकेन कृतः पूर्वं राक्षस्याः कर्णकर्तनम्
O great king, your elder brother also performed another heroic deed: by Sanaka's command, he cut off the ear of a demoness.
एवं करिष्यति नृपः शत्रुघ्नः शिक्षया तव । यदि नायं तथा कुर्यात्कुलस्यासदृशं भवेत्
Thus, with your instruction, King Shatrughna will act; if he does not act in this way, he would be unworthy of the lineage.