तेनासौ मोचितो वाजी चंदनादिकचर्चितः । तं पालयति धर्मात्मा शत्रुघ्नः परवीरहा
By him, that horse, adorned with sandalwood and other unguents, was released; and the righteous Shatrughna, destroyer of enemy heroes, is guarding it.
ये च शूरा वयं वीरा धनुर्हस्ता इमे वयम् । ते गृह्णंतु बलाद्वाहं रत्नमालाविभूषितम्
Let those among us who are valiant, who bear bows in hand, seize this prize-laden steed adorned with a garland of jewels.
तं च मोक्ष्यति शत्रुघ्नः सर्ववीरशिरोमणिः । अन्यथा पादयोस्तस्य प्रणतिं यांतु धन्विनः
Shatrughna, the foremost among all warriors, will release it; otherwise, let the archers bow at his feet.
इत्यभिप्रायमालोक्य जगाद नृपनंदनः । राम एव धनुर्धारी न वयं क्षत्त्रियाः स्मृताः
Perceiving this intention, the prince spoke: 'Only Rama is truly an archer; we are not regarded as Kshatriyas.'
ताते मेऽवस्थिते पृथ्व्यां कोऽयं गर्वो महान्भुवि । प्राप्नोतु गर्वस्य फलं मम निर्मुक्तसायकैः
While my father stands upon the earth, what is this great pride in the world? Let him reap the fruit of his arrogance from my arrows, once loosed.
अद्य मे निशिता बाणाः शत्रुघ्नं किंशुकं यथा । पुष्पितं विदधत्वद्धा क्षतावृतशरीरकम्
Today, let my sharp arrows make Shatrughna, like a blossoming kimshuka tree, covered with wounds upon his body.
दारयंतु कपोलांश्च सायका मम दंतिनाम् । अश्वान्पश्यंतु शतशो रुधिरौघपरिप्लुतान्
Let my arrows pierce the cheeks of the elephants, and let the horses be seen by the hundreds, drenched in streams of blood.
पिबंतु योगिनीसंघा रुधिराणि नृमस्तकैः । शिवा भवंतु संतुष्टा मद्वैरिक्रव्यभक्षणैः
Let the hosts of yoginis drink blood from the heads of men, and let Shiva's consorts be satisfied by devouring the flesh of my enemies.
पश्यंतु सुभटास्तस्य मम बाहुबलं महत् । कोदंडदंडनिर्मुक्ताः शरकोटीर्विमुंचतः
Let those mighty warriors witness the great strength of my arms, as I release millions of arrows from my bow, the staff of Kodanda.
इत्थमुक्त्वा महीपस्य तनुजो दमनाभिधः । स्वपुरं प्रेषयित्वा तं प्रहृष्टोऽभवदुद्भटः
Having spoken thus, the king's son named Damana, after sending him to his own city, became exultant and fierce.
सेनापतिमुवाचेदं सज्जीकुरु महामते । सेनां परिमितां मह्यं वैरिवृंदनिवारणे
He spoke to the commander of the army: 'Prepare a force for me, wise one, sufficient to repel the hosts of enemies.'
सज्जां सेनां विधायाशु संमुखो रणमंडले । स्थितवान्या वदत्युग्रस्तावत्प्राप्ता हयानुगाः
Having quickly arrayed the army, he stood face to face in the field of battle; and as he spoke fiercely, the horsemen arrived.
क्वासौ हयो महाराज्ञो भालपत्रेण चिह्नितः । पप्रच्छुस्ते तु चान्योन्यमतिव्याकुलिता मुहुः
'Where is that horse of the great king, marked with the Bhala-patra?' they asked each other repeatedly, greatly bewildered.
तावद्ददर्श पुरतः प्रतापाग्र्यः परंतपः । सज्जीभूतं तु कटकं वीरशब्दनिनादितम्
Just then, the illustrious and mighty warrior beheld before him a battle-ready host, resounding with the cries of heroes.
तत्रावदञ्जनाः केचिन्नीतोऽश्वोऽनेन भूपते । अन्यथा संमुखस्तिष्ठेत्कथं वीरो बलानुगः
There, some said: 'The horse was led away by this one, O king; otherwise, how could a hero with his force stand before us?'
इत्याकर्ण्य प्रतापाग्र्यः प्रेषयामास सेवकम् । स गत्वा तत्र पप्रच्छ कुत्राश्वो रामभूपतेः
Hearing this, the foremost among the valiant sent a servant, who went there and asked, 'Where is the horse of King Rama?'
केन नीतः कुतो नीतो रामं जानाति नो कुधीः । यं शक्रप्रमुखा देवा बलिमादाय सन्नताः
'By whom was it taken? Where was it taken? Does this wicked one not know Rama, to whom even the gods led by Indra offer tribute and bow?'
तस्य वै धर्मराजस्य कुपितं तु बलं महत् । सर्वथा हि ग्रसिष्येत प्रणतिं चेन्न यास्यति
If the great force of that king of righteousness becomes angry, it will surely consume him unless he offers obeisance.
इत्थमुक्तं समाकर्ण्य तदा राजसुतो बली । तं वै धिक्कारयामास वाग्जालेन सुदुर्मनाः
Hearing these words, the powerful prince then, deeply troubled, reproached him with harsh speech.
मयानीतो यज्ञहयः पत्रचिह्नाद्यलंकृतः । ये शूरास्ते तु मां जित्वा मोचयंतु बलादिह
The sacrificial horse, adorned with marked insignia, has been brought here by me; let those heroes who can defeat me by force come and free it.
सेवकस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा रोषपूर्णो हसन्ययौ । राज्ञे निवेदयामास यथावदुपवर्णितम्
Hearing these words, the servant, filled with anger, laughed and went to the king, reporting everything exactly as it had been said.
तच्छ्रुत्वा रोषताम्राक्षः प्रतापाग्र्यो महाबलः । ययौ योद्धुं राजपुत्रं महावीरपुरस्कृतम्
Hearing this, his eyes reddened with rage, the foremost in valor and of great might, went forth to fight, surrounded by mighty heroes.
रथेन कनकांगेन चतुर्वाजिसुशोभिना । सुकूबरेण सर्वास्त्रपूरितेन ययौ बली
He set out in a chariot with golden fittings, splendid with four fine horses, well-yoked and filled with all kinds of weapons.
धनुष्टंकारयामास महाबलसमन्वितः । पुनःपुनर्जहासोच्चैः कोपादुद्गमिताश्रुकः
He made his bow resound, endowed with great strength, and again and again laughed loudly, tears springing forth from anger.
अश्ववाहा गजारूढाः खड्गोल्लसितपाणयः । अन्वयुस्ते प्रतापाग्र्यं रोषपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम्
Horsemen, elephant riders, and those with swords gleaming in hand followed the foremost in valor, whose eyes were wild with wrath.
हस्तिनः पत्तयश्चैव कोटिशः प्रधनोद्यताः । चिरकालमभीप्संतो रणं वीरेणकारितम्
Elephants and foot soldiers by the millions, eager for battle, longed for the combat to be waged by the hero.
तदोद्यतं समाज्ञाय रिपुसैन्यं नृपात्मजः । प्रत्युज्जगाम वीराग्र्यो महाबलपरीवृतः
Seeing the enemy army prepared for battle, the prince, foremost among heroes and surrounded by great warriors, advanced to meet them.
सन्नद्धः कवची खड्गी शरासनधरो युवा । लीलयैव ययौ योद्धुं मृगराड्गजतामिव
Fully armored, bearing sword and bow, the youthful warrior went forth to fight with ease, like a lion approaching a herd of elephants.
तदा योधाः प्रकुपिताः परस्परवधैषिणः । छिंधि भिंधीति भाषंतो रणकार्यविशारदाः
Then the enraged warriors, skilled in the work of battle and intent on mutual slaughter, shouted, 'Cut! Pierce!'
पत्तयः पत्तिसंघेन गजारूढाश्च सादिभिः । रथारूढा रथस्थैश्च वाहारूढाश्वसंस्थितैः
Foot soldiers with their companies, elephant riders with their attendants, chariot warriors with those on chariots, and cavalry with mounted horsemen engaged in battle.