नाथ ते विजयोभूयात्सर्वत्र रणमंडले । शत्रुघ्नाज्ञा प्रकर्तव्या हयरक्षा यथा भवेत्
'Lord, may you be victorious everywhere on the battlefield; the protection of the horse must be carried out according to Shatrughna’s command.'
स्मरणीया हि सर्वत्र सेविका त्वत्पदानुगा । कदापि मानसं नाथ त्वत्तो नान्यत्र गच्छति
'I am your servant, to be remembered always, following your feet; my mind, O lord, never strays from you to another.'
परमायोधने कांत स्मर्तव्याहं न जातुचित् । सत्यां मयि तव स्वांते युद्धे 3विजयसंशयः
'Beloved, even in the fiercest battle, I must always be remembered; as long as I am true in your heart, there can be no doubt of your victory in war.'
पद्मनेत्र तथा कार्यमूर्मिलाद्या यथा मम । हास्यं नैव प्रकुर्वंति मां वीक्ष्य करताडनैः
'Lotus-eyed one, let Urmila and the others act toward me as they do; they do not laugh at me or strike me with their hands when they see me.'
इयं पत्नी महाभीरोः संग्रामे प्रपलायितुः । कातरा यर्हि युद्ध्यंति शूराणां समयः कुतः
'This wife of a great hero, who flees from battle, is timid—when such women fight, what time is there for the brave?'
इत्येवं न हसंत्युच्चैर्यथा मे देवरांगनाः । तथा कार्यं महाबाहो रामस्य हयरक्षणे
'Thus, they do not laugh loudly at me as the other royal women do; so must it be, O mighty-armed one, in protecting Rama’s horse.'
योद्धा त्वमादौ सर्वत्र परे ये तव पृष्ठतः । धनुष्टंकारबधिराः क्रियंतां बलिनः परे
'You must be the first to fight everywhere, and those others who are behind you; let the mighty enemies be made deaf by the twang of your bow.'
तवप्रोद्यत्करांभोज करवालभिया बलम् । परेषां भवतात्क्षिप्रमन्योन्य भयव्याकुलम्
'When your upraised lotus-like hand grasps the sword in battle, may the enemy’s army quickly become filled with mutual fear.'
कुलं महदलं कार्यं परान्विजयता त्वया । गच्छ स्वामिन्महाबाहो तव श्रेयो भवत्विह
You must establish a great lineage by conquering your enemies. Go forth, mighty-armed lord; may your welfare be here.
इदं धनुर्गृहाणाशु महद्गुणविभूषितम् । यस्य गर्जितमाकर्ण्य वैरिवृंदं भयातुरम्
Quickly take up this bow, adorned with excellent qualities; its thunderous sound strikes terror into the ranks of foes.
इमौ ते त्विषुधी वीर बध्येतां शं यथा भवेत् । वैरिकोटिविनिष्पेष बाणकोटि सुपूरितौ
Here are your two quivers, hero, filled to the brim with arrows for crushing hosts of enemies, so that auspiciousness may prevail.
कवचं त्विदमाधेहि शरीरे कामसुंदरे । वज्रप्रभा महादीप्ति हतसंतमसंदृढम्
Place this armor upon your beautiful body; it shines with the brilliance of a diamond, dispelling darkness and granting firmness.
शिरस्त्राणं निजोत्तंसे कुरु कांत मनोरमम् । इमेव तंसे विशदे मणिरत्नविभूषिते
Adorn your head with this splendid crown, charming and lovely, set with clear gems and precious jewels.
इति सुविमलवाचं वीरपुत्रीं प्रपश्यन् । नयनकमलदृष्ट्या वीक्षमाणस्तंदंगम् । अधिगतपरिमोदो भारतिः शत्रुजेता । रणकरणसमर्थस्तां जगादातिधीरः
Beholding the heroic daughter speaking these pure words, gazing with lotus-like eyes, Bharata, conqueror of enemies, filled with joy and ready for battle, replied to her with great resolve.
पुष्कल उवाच। कांते यत्त्वं वदसि मां तथा सर्वं चराम्यहम् । वीरपत्नी भवेत्कीर्तिस्तव कांतिमतीप्सिता
Puṣkala said: Beloved, whatever you say to me, I shall do accordingly. May your fame as the wife of a hero be radiant, as you desire.
इति कांतिमतीदत्तं कवचं मुकुटं वरम् । धनुर्महेषुधीखड्गं सर्वं जग्राह वीर्यवान्
Thus, Kāntimatī gave the armor, crown, bow, great quiver, and sword; the valiant one accepted them all.
परिधाय च तत्सर्वं बहुशो भासमन्वितः । शुशुभेऽतीव सुभटः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदः
Having donned all these, shining in many ways, the noble warrior, skilled in all weapons and missiles, appeared exceedingly splendid.
तमस्त्रशस्त्रशोभाढ्यं वीरमालाविभूषितम् । कुंकुमागुरुकस्तूरी चंदनादिकचर्चितम्
That hero, adorned with garlands of valor and resplendent with weapons and missiles, was anointed with saffron, aloe, musk, sandalwood, and other fragrant substances.
नानाकुसुममालाभिराजानुपरिशोभितम् । नीराजयामास मुहुस्तत्र कांतिमती सती
He was further adorned with various flower garlands upon his knees; there, the virtuous Kāntimatī repeatedly performed the ceremonial waving of lights.
नीराजयित्वा बहुशः किरंती मौक्तिकैर्मुहुः । गलदश्रुचलन्नेत्रा परिरेभे पतिं निजम्
After performing the ceremonial waving many times, scattering pearls again and again, with tears streaming and eyes trembling, she embraced her own husband.
दृढं सपरिरभ्यैतां चिरमाश्वासयत्तदा । वीरपत्नि कांतिमति विरहं मा कृथा मम
He held her tightly, comforting her for a long time, saying: 'Heroic wife Kāntimatī, do not grieve for my absence.'
एष गच्छामि सविधे तव भामे पतिव्रते । इत्युक्त्वा तां निजां पत्नीं रथमारुरुहे वरम्
'I now depart, O radiant one, devoted to your husband.' Saying this, he ascended his splendid chariot with his own wife.
तं प्रयांतं पतिं श्रेष्ठं नयनैर्निमिषोज्झितैः । विलोकयामास तदा पतिव्रतपरायणा
As her excellent husband departed, the devoted wife gazed at him with unblinking eyes.
स ययौ जनकं द्रष्टुं जननीं प्रेमविह्वलाम् । गत्वा पितरमंबां च ववंदे शिरसा मुदा
He went to see his father and his mother, overwhelmed with love; approaching them, he joyfully bowed his head.
माता पुत्रं परिष्वज्य स्वांकमारोपयत्तदा । मुंचंती बाष्पनिचयं स्वस्त्यस्त्विति जगाद सा
The mother embraced her son, seating him on her lap, shedding a flood of tears, and said, 'May you be blessed.'
पितरं प्राह भरतं रामो यज्ञकरः परः । पालनीयो लक्ष्मणेन भवद्भिश्च महात्मभिः
He addressed his father, Bharata, and Rama, the supreme performer of sacrifice: 'Let Lakṣmaṇa and you, O great souls, protect him.'
आज्ञप्तोऽसौ जनन्या च पित्रा हृषितया गिरा । ययौ शत्रुघ्नकटकं महावीरविभूषितम्
Commanded by his mother and father with joyful words, he went to the camp of Shatrughna, adorned by great heroes.
रथिभिः पत्तिभिर्वीरैः सदश्वैः सादिभिर्वृतः । ययौ मुदा रघूत्तंस महायज्ञहयाग्रणीः
Surrounded by warriors on chariots, foot soldiers, heroes, steeds, and horsemen, the ornament of the Raghu lineage, leader of the great horse sacrifice, proceeded with delight.
गच्छन्पांचालदेशांश्च कुरूंश्चैवोत्तरान्कुरून् । दशार्णाञ्छ्रीविशालांश्च सर्वशोभासमन्वितः
Passing through the lands of the Panchalas, the Kurus, the northern Kurus, the Dasharnas, and the splendid Shri Vishala, he was endowed with all glory.
तत्र तत्रोपशृण्वानो रघुवीरयशोऽखिलम् । रावणासुरघातेन भक्तरक्षाविधायकम्
There and everywhere, hearing the fame of the Raghu hero—who slew the demon Ravana and protected his devotees—