करिष्यत्यश्वमेधं हि सर्वसंभारशोभितम् । तस्य भ्राता महावीरः शत्रुघ्नः परवीरहा
He will perform the Ashvamedha sacrifice, splendid with all its arrangements; and his heroic brother Shatrughna, destroyer of enemies,
पालयन्हयमायास्यत्यत्र वीरादिभिर्वृतः । तस्मै सर्वं समर्प्य त्वं राज्यमृद्धं धनादिकम्
Will come here, guarding the sacrificial horse, surrounded by heroes; to him, you shall offer all—your prosperous kingdom and wealth.
पालयिष्यसि योधैः स्वैर्धनुर्धारिभिरुद्भटैः । ततः पृथिव्यां सर्वत्र भ्रमिष्यसि महामते
Then, with your own warriors—bold archers—you will rule; after that, O wise one, you shall travel everywhere upon the earth.
ततो रामं नमस्कृत्य ब्रह्मेंद्रेशादिसेवितम् । मुक्तिं प्राप्स्यसि दुष्प्रापां योगिभिर्यमसाधनैः
Then, having bowed to Rama, who is served by Brahma, Indra, and other gods, you will attain that difficult liberation which yogis reach only through great effort.
तावत्कालमिहस्थास्ये यावद्रामहयागमः । पश्चात्त्वां तु समुद्धृत्य गंतास्मि परमं पदम्
I will remain here until Rama's horse arrives; afterwards, I will lift you up and go to the supreme abode.
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे देवी सुरासुरनमस्कृता । सुमदोऽप्यहिच्छत्रायां शत्रून्हत्वा नृपोऽभवत्
Having spoken thus, the goddess—revered by gods and demons—disappeared; and Sumada, having slain his enemies in Ahicchatra, became king.
एष राजा समर्थोऽपि बलवाहनसंयुतः । न ग्रहीष्यति ते वाहं महामायासुशिक्षितः
This king, though capable and possessed of a mighty army, will not seize your mount, being well-trained in the arts of great illusion.
श्रुत्वा प्राप्तं पुरी पार्श्वे हयमेधहयोत्तमम् । त्वां च सर्वैर्महाराजैः सेवितांघ्रिं महामतिम्
Hearing that the best sacrificial horse has arrived at the city, and that you, wise one, are attended by all the great kings,
सर्वं दास्यति सर्वज्ञ राजा सुमदनामधृक् । अधुनातन्महाराज रामचंद्र प्रतापतः
King Sumada, who knows all, will give you everything; for now, O great king, this is due to the majesty of Ramachandra.
शेष उवाच। इति वृत्तं समाकर्ण्य सुमदस्य महायशाः । साधुसाध्विति चोवाच जहर्ष मतिमान्बली
Shesha said: Hearing of these events concerning Sumada, the illustrious one, the wise and mighty king exclaimed 'Excellent, excellent!' and rejoiced.
अहिच्छत्रापतिः सर्वैः स्वगणैः परिवारितः । सभायां सुखमास्ते यो बहुराजन्यसेवितः
The lord of Ahicchatra, surrounded by all his followers, sits happily in his assembly, attended by many kings.
ब्राह्मणा वेदविदुषो वैश्या धनसमृद्धयः । राजानं पर्युपासंते सुमदंशो भयान्वितम्
Brahmins learned in the Vedas, wealthy merchants, and kings, all serve King Sumada, though they are filled with fear.
वेदविद्याविनोदेन न्यायिनो ब्राह्मणा वराः । आशीर्वदंति तं भूपं सर्वलोकैकरक्षकम्
The best Brahmins, skilled in Vedic knowledge and justice, bless that king, the sole protector of all the world.
एतस्मिन्समये कश्चिदागत्य नृपतिं जगौ । स्वामिन्न जाने कस्यास्ति हयः पत्रधरोंऽतिके
At that time, someone approached the king and said: 'Lord, I do not know to whom this horse with the marked hooves belongs.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा सेवकं श्रेष्ठं प्रेषयामास सत्वरः । जानीहि कस्य राज्ञोऽयमश्वो मम पुरांतिके
Hearing this, he quickly sent his chief servant, saying: 'Go and find out to which king this horse near my city belongs.'
गत्वाथ सेवकस्तत्र ज्ञात्वा वृत्तांतमादितः । निवेदयामास नृपं महाराजन्यसेवितम्
The servant went there, learned the full account from the beginning, and reported it to the king, who was attended by great nobles.
स श्रुत्वा रघुनाथस्य हयं नित्यमनुस्मरन् । आज्ञापयामास जनं सर्वं राजाविशारदः
Hearing that it was Raghunātha's horse, the wise king, constantly remembering Raghunātha, ordered all the people.
लोका मदीयाः सर्वे ये धनधान्यसमाकुलाः । तोरणादीनि गेहेषु मंगलानि सृजंत्विह
Let all my people, who are filled with wealth and grain, create auspicious decorations such as arches at their homes here.
कन्याः सहस्रशो रम्याः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः । गजोपरिसमारूढा यांतु शत्रुघ्नसंमुखम्
Let thousands of beautiful maidens, adorned with all ornaments, mounted on elephants, go to meet Śatrughna.
इत्यादिसर्वमाज्ञाप्य ययौ राजा स्वयं ततः । पुत्रपौत्रमहिष्यादिपरिवारसमावृतः
Having thus ordered everything, the king himself set out, surrounded by his sons, grandsons, queens, and other attendants.
शत्रुघ्नः सुमहामात्यैः सुभटैः पुष्कलादिभिः । संयुतो भूपतिं वीरं ददर्श सुमदाभिधम्
Śatrughna, accompanied by great ministers, excellent warriors, Puṣkala and others, saw the heroic king named Sumada.
हस्तिभिः सादिसंयुक्तैः पत्तिभिः परतापनैः । वाजिभिर्भूषितैर्वीरैः संयुतं वीरशोभितम्
He saw him surrounded by elephants with their riders, infantry skilled in battle, and heroic warriors mounted on decorated horses, shining with valor.
अथागत्य महाराजः शत्रुघ्नं नतवान्मुदा । धन्योऽस्मि कृतकृत्योऽस्मि सत्कृतं च कृतं वपुः
Then the great king approached and joyfully bowed to Śatrughna, saying: 'I am blessed, my purpose is fulfilled, and I have been truly honored.'
इदं राज्यं गृहाणाशु महाराजोपशोभितम् । महामाणिक्यमुक्तादि महाधनसुपूरितम्
Take this kingdom at once, O great king, adorned with jewels, pearls, and filled with immense wealth.
स्वामिंश्चिरं प्रतीक्षेऽहं हयस्यागमनं प्रति । कामाक्षाकथितं पूर्वं जातं संप्रति तत्तथा
I have long awaited you, my lord, for the arrival of the horse; what was foretold by Kāmākṣā before has now come to pass.
विलोकय पुरं मह्यं कृतार्थान्कुरु मानवान् । पावयास्मत्कुलं सर्वं रामानुज महीपते
Behold my city, grant fulfillment to my people, and purify our entire lineage, O king, descendant of Rāma.
इत्युक्त्वारोहयामास कुंजरं चंद्रसुप्रभम् । पुष्कलं च महावीरं तथा स्वयमथारुहत्
Having spoken thus, he had a radiant elephant brought, mounted Puṣkala, the great hero, and then ascended himself.
भेरीपणवतूर्याणां वीणादीनां स्वनस्तदा । व्याप्नोति स्म महाराज सुमदेन प्रणोदितः
At that time, the sound of drums, cymbals, trumpets, lutes, and other instruments, inspired by great joy, filled the air, O great king.
कन्याः समागत्य महानरेंद्रं -। शत्रुघ्नमिंद्रादिकसेवितांघ्रिम् । करिस्थिता मौक्तिकवृंदसंघै-। र्वर्धापयामासुरिनप्रयुक्ताः
The maidens, having gathered, honored the great king Śatrughna—whose feet were served by Indra and others—standing on elephants, with clusters of pearls, and offered blessings as prescribed by tradition.
शनैःशनैः समागत्य पुरीमध्ये जनैर्मुदा । वर्धापितो गृहं प्राप तोरणादिकभूषितम्
Gradually entering the city, joyfully honored by the people, he reached a house adorned with arches and other decorations.