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—
यत्र रंभा तिरस्कारकारिण्यः कमलाननाः । दृश्यंते सर्वहर्म्येषु ललना लीलयान्विताः
Where Rambha and other lotus-faced women, causing jealousy, are seen in every palace, engaged in playful activities.
यत्र स्वाचारललिताः सर्वभोगैकभोगिनः । धनदानुचरायद्वत्तथा लीलासमन्विताः
Where those delighting in all pleasures, graceful in their conduct, live as companions of Kubera, and are engaged in playful pursuits.
यत्र वीरा धनुर्हस्ताःशरसंधानकोविदाः । कुर्वंति तत्र राजानं सुहृष्टं सुमदाभिधम्
Where heroes, skilled in archery and arrow-joining, with bows in hand, make the king there, named Sumada, joyful.
एवंविधं ददर्शासौ नगरं दूरतः प्रभुः । पार्श्वे तस्य पुरश्रेष्ठमुद्यानं शोभयान्वितम्
Thus, the lord saw that city from afar, splendid, with its foremost gardens shining at its side.
पुन्नागैर्नागचंपैश्च तिलकैर्देवदारुभिः । अशोकैः पाटलैश्चूतैर्मंदारैःकोविदारकैः
With punnāga, nāgacaṃpa, tilaka, and devadāru trees, with aśoka, pāṭala, mango, mandāra, and kovidāra trees,
आम्रजंबुकदंबैश्च प्रियालपनसैस्तथा । शालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च मल्लिकाजातियूथिभिः
With mango, jamun, kadamba, priyāla, and jackfruit trees as well, with śāla, tāla, tamāla, and with mallikā, jāti, and yūthi flowers,
नीपैः कदंबैर्बकुलैश्चंपकैर्मदनादिभिः । शोभितं सददर्शाथशत्रुघ्नःपरवीरहा
With nīpa, kadamba, bakula, campaka, and madana trees and others, that place was splendid; then Shatrughna, the destroyer of enemies, beheld it.
हयोगतस्तद्वनमध्यदेशे । तमालतालादि सुशोभिते वै । ययौ ततः पृष्ठत एव वीरो । धनुर्धरैः सेवितपादपद्मः
By the movement of his horse, in the midst of that forest, beautiful with tamāla and tāla trees, the hero proceeded behind, his lotus feet attended by bowmen.
ददर्श त रचितं देवायतनमद्भुतम् । इंद्रनीलैश्च वैडूर्यैस्तथा मारकतैरपि
There he saw a wondrous temple constructed for the gods, adorned with sapphires, cat's-eye gems, and emeralds.
शोभितं सुरसेवार्हं कैलासप्रस्थसन्निभम् । जातरूपमयैः स्तंभैःशोभितं सद्मनां वरम्
Splendid, fit for the service of the gods, resembling the summit of Kailāsa, adorned with golden pillars, the best of mansions.