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.
हयरत्नेन संयुक्तस्तथा वीरैः सुशोभितः । राज्ञा पुरस्कृतो राजा शत्रुघ्नः प्राप मंदिरम्
Accompanied by the jewel-horse and shining warriors, Śatrughna, led by the king, entered the palace.
अर्घादिभिः पूजयित्वा रघुनाथानुजं तदा । सर्वं समर्पयामास रामचंद्राय धीमते
Then, after worshipping the younger brother of Raghunātha with arghya and other offerings, he devotedly offered everything to the wise Rāmacandra.
शेष उवाच। अथ स्वागतसंतुष्टं शत्रुघ्नं प्राह भूमिपः । रघुनाथकथां श्रेष्ठां शुश्रूषुः पुरुषर्षभः
Śeṣa spoke: Then, the king addressed Śatrughna, who was pleased with his welcome, eager to hear the noble tales of Raghunātha, the best among men.
सुमद उवाच। कच्चिदास्ते सुखं रामः सर्वलोकशिरोमणिः । भक्तरक्षावतारोऽयं ममानुग्रहकारकः
Sumada spoke: Is Rāma, the crown jewel of all worlds, well? He is the incarnation for the protection of devotees and the giver of grace to me.
धन्या लोका इमे पुर्यां रघुनाथमुखांबुजम् । ये पिबंत्यनिशं चाक्षिपुटकैः परिमोदिताः
Blessed are the people in this city who, delighted, drink in the lotus face of Raghunātha ceaselessly with their eyes.
अर्थजातं मदीयं च नितरां पुरुषर्षभ । कृतार्थं कुलभूम्यादि वस्तुजातं महामते
All my possessions, O best of men, and the wealth of my lineage and land, are truly fulfilled, O wise one.
कामाक्षया प्रसादो मे कृतः पूर्वं दयार्द्रया । रघुनाथमुखांभोजं द्रक्ष्येद्य सकुटुंबकः
By the exhaustion of my desires, mercy was previously shown to me; today, with my family, I will see the lotus face of Raghunātha.
इत्युक्तवति वीरे तु सुमदे पार्थिवोत्तमे । सर्वं तत्कथयामास रघुनाथगुणोदयम्
When the noble king Sumada had spoken thus to the hero, he narrated everything—the rise of Raghunātha's virtues.
त्रिरात्रं तत्र संस्थित्य रघुनाथानुजः परम् । गंतुं चकार धिषणां राज्ञा सह महामतिः
There, after staying for three nights, the wise younger brother of Raghunātha resolved to depart with the king.
तज्ज्ञात्वा सुमदः शीघ्रं पुत्रं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् । शत्रुघ्नेन महाराज्ञा पुष्कलेनानुमोदितः
Knowing this, Sumada quickly installed his son on the throne, with the approval of the great king Śatrughna and Puṣkala.