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.
इत्युक्तवंतं तं रामः प्रत्युवाच हसन्निव । मेघगंभीरया वाचा सर्ववाक्यविशारदः
When he had spoken thus, Rama, expert in all speech, replied with a voice deep as a cloud, as if smiling.
शृण्वंतु योगिनः शांताः समदुःखसुखाः पुनः । जानंत्यपारसंसारनिस्तारतरणादिकम्
Let the peaceful yogis, equal in pleasure and pain, listen again; they know the means to cross the boundless ocean of worldly existence.
ये शूराः समहेष्वासाः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदाः । ते च जानंति युद्धस्य वार्त्तां न तु भवादृशाः
Those who are heroes, skilled archers, and masters of all weapons and missiles—they alone know the realities of battle, not people like you.
परोपतापिनो ये वै ये चोत्पथविसारिणः । ते हंतव्या नृपैः सर्वैः सर्वलोकहितैषिभिः
Those who harm others and those who stray from the right path—they must be slain by all kings and by all who seek the welfare of the world.
इत्युक्तमाकर्ण्य सभासदस्ते सर्वे स्मितं चक्रुररिंदमस्य । कुंभोद्भवः पूजितमेनमश्वं विमोचयामास सुशोभितं हि
Hearing these words, all the assembly members smiled at the enemy-subduer; the ocean-born one, having honored the horse, released it, for it was indeed splendid.
इमं मंत्रं समुच्चार्य वसिष्ठः कलशोद्भवः । कराग्रेण स्पृशन्नश्वं मुमोच जयकांक्षया
Reciting this mantra, Vasistha, born from a pot, touched the horse with his hand and released it, desiring victory.
वाजिन्गच्छ यथालीलं सर्वत्र धरणीतले । यागार्थे मोचितो येन पुनरागच्छ सत्वरः
'Go, horse, as you please, everywhere upon the earth; you are released for the sake of the sacrifice—return quickly to the one who set you free.'
अश्वस्तु मोचितः सर्वैर्भटैः शस्त्रास्त्रकोविदैः । परीतः प्रययौ प्राचीं दिशं वायुजवान्वितः
The horse, released by all the warriors skilled in weapons and missiles, surrounded, set out toward the eastern direction, swift as the wind.
प्रचचार बलं सर्वं कंपयद्धरणीतलम् । शेषोऽपि किंचिन्न तया फणया धृतवान्भुवम्
The entire army marched, shaking the earth; even Shesha did not hold the ground with his hood at that time.
दिशः प्रसेदुः परितः क्ष्मातलं शोभयान्वितम् । वायवस्तं तु शत्रुघ्नं पृष्ठतो मंदगामिनः
The directions all around became clear, and the earth's surface was adorned; the winds followed behind Shatrughna, who moved slowly.
शत्रुघ्नस्य प्रयाणायाभ्युद्य तस्य भुजोऽस्फुरत् । दक्षिणः शुभमाशंसी जयाय च बभूव ह
As Shatrughna set out on his journey, his right arm quivered—a sign of good fortune, foretelling victory.
पुष्कलः स्वगृहं रम्यं प्रविवेश समृद्धिमत् । वितर्दिभिर्वलक्षाभिः शोभितं रत्नवेदिकम्
Pushkala entered his own splendid and prosperous house, adorned with balconies and countless jewels, its platforms shining with gems.
तत्रापश्यन्निजां भार्यां पतिव्रतपरायणाम् । किंचित्स्वदर्शनाद्धृष्टां भर्तृदर्शनलालसाम्
There he saw his own wife, devoted to fidelity, somewhat emboldened by seeing him, longing for the sight of her husband.
मुखारविंदेन च नागवल्लीदलं सुकर्पूरयुतं च चर्वती । नासाफलं तोयभवं महाधनं बाह्वोर्मृणालीसदृशोः सुकंकणे
With a lotus-like face, she was chewing betel leaves mixed with fine camphor; her nose-ring was of precious water-born gems, her arms adorned with beautiful bangles resembling lotus stalks.
कुचौ तु मालूरफलोपमौ वरौ नितंबबिंबं वरनीवि शोभितम् । पादौ तुलाकोटिधरौ सुकोमलौ दधत्यहो एक्षत सत्पतिं स्वकम्
Her breasts were lovely, like ripe bael fruits, her hips adorned with a fine girdle; her feet, soft as the ends of a balance beam, bore delicate anklets—thus she gazed upon her noble husband.
परिरभ्य प्रियां धीरो गद्गदस्वरभाषिणीम् । तदुरोजपरीरंभनिर्भरीकृतदेहकाम्
The steadfast man embraced his beloved, who spoke with a voice choked by emotion, her body pressed close as he held her to his chest.
उवाच भद्रे गच्छामि शत्रुघ्नपृष्ठरक्षकः । रामाज्ञया याज्ञमश्वं पालयन्रथसंयुतः
He said, 'Dear one, I am going as Shatrughna’s rear-guard, to protect the horse for the sacrifice by Rama’s command, accompanied by chariots.'
त्वया मे मातरः पूज्याः पादसंवाहनादिमिः । तदुच्छिष्टं हि भुंजाना तत्कर्मकरणादरा
'You must honor my mothers with acts such as massaging their feet, and eat only what remains after them, diligently performing these duties.'
सर्वाः पतिव्रता नार्यो लोपामुद्रादिकाः शुभाः । नावमान्यास्त्वया भीरु स्वतपोबलशोभिताः
'All the wives, devoted to their husbands, beginning with Lopamudra and others, are to be respected by you, O timid one, for they are radiant with the power of their own austerity.'
शेष उवाच। इत्युक्तवंतं स्वपतिं वीक्ष्य प्रेम्णा सुनिर्भरम् । प्रत्युवाच हसंतीव किंचिद्गद्गदभाषिणी
Shesha said: Seeing her husband speak thus, she replied with deep affection, smiling a little, her words slightly faltering.