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—
पुनश्च हयमेधादि कार्यमारभ्य पावनम् । यशो वितन्वन्भुवने लोकान्रामोऽविता भयात्
Again, undertaking the purifying task of the horse sacrifice and other rites, Rama spread his renown throughout the world, protecting people from fear.
तेभ्यस्तुष्टो ददौ हारान्रत्नानि विविधानि च । महाधनानि वासांसि शत्रुघ्नः प्रवरो महान्
Pleased with them, Shatrughna, the foremost and great one, gave garlands, various gems, great wealth, and garments.
सुमतिर्नाम तेजस्वी सर्वविद्याविशारदः । रघुनाथस्य सचिवः शत्रुघ्नानुचरो वरः
Sumati by name, radiant and skilled in all knowledge, was the minister of Raghu's lord and the excellent attendant of Shatrughna.
ययौ तेन महावीरो ग्रामाञ्जनपदान्बहून् । रघुनाथप्रतापेन न कोपि हृतवान्हयम्
With him, the great hero traveled through many villages and regions; by the glory of Raghu's lord, no one took the horse.
देशाधिपाये बहवो महाबलपराक्रमाः । हस्त्यश्वरथपादात चतुरंगसमन्विताः
Many rulers of regions, possessing great strength and valor, accompanied by elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers, with their fourfold armies—
संपदो बहुशो नीत्वा मुक्तामाणिक्यसंयुताः । शत्रुघ्नं हयरक्षार्थमागतं प्रणता मुहुः
Having brought abundant treasures adorned with pearls and rubies, they repeatedly bowed to Shatrughna, who had come for the protection of the horse.
इदं राज्यं धनं सर्वं सपुत्रपशुबांधवम् । रामचंद्रस्य सर्वं हि न मदीयं रघूद्वह
This kingdom, all this wealth, along with sons, cattle, and relatives, belongs entirely to Ramachandra; it is not mine, O best of the Raghu line.
एवं तदुक्तमाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नः परवीरहा । आज्ञां स्वां तत्र संज्ञाप्य ययौ तैः सहितः पथि
Hearing this said, Shatrughna, destroyer of enemy heroes, issued his own command there and proceeded along the path with them.
एवं क्रमेण संप्राप्तः शत्रुघ्नो हयसंयुतः । अहिच्छत्रां पुरीं ब्रह्मन्नानाजनसमाकुलाम्
Thus, in due course, Shatrughna, accompanied by the horse, arrived at the city of Ahichhatra, crowded with countless people.
ब्रह्मद्विजसमाकीर्णां नानारत्नविभूषिताम् । सौवर्णैः स्फाटिकैर्हर्म्यैर्गोपुरैः समलंकृताम्
Filled with Brahmins and twice-borns, adorned with various gems, decorated with golden and crystal palaces and towers—