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.
गजा भिन्ना द्विधा जाता हयाश्च द्विदलीकृताः । अनेकनरमस्तिष्कैर्मेदिनीपूरिता ह्यभूत्
Elephants were split in two, horses were cleft asunder, and the earth became filled with countless human skulls.
तदा प्रकुपितो राजा प्रतापाग्र्यो महाबलः । स्वसैन्यकदनोद्युक्तं राजपुत्रं समीक्ष्य च
Then the enraged king, foremost in valor and of great might, seeing the prince intent on slaughtering his own army,
उवाच सारथिं तत्र प्रापयाश्वान्यतो मम । सैन्यस्य कदनासक्तो राजपुत्रो महारथः
Said to his charioteer there, 'Drive my horses there, for the prince, the great chariot-warrior, is absorbed in the slaughter of the army.'
अथ वीरशिरोरत्न नमितांघ्रिर्नृपात्मजः । ययौ संमुखमेवास्य प्रतापाग्र्यस्य वीर्यवान्
Then the prince, bowing his head like a jewel among heroes, went straight to face the foremost in valor, full of courage.
सारथिः प्रापयामास प्रतापाग्र्यस्य वाजिनः । यत्रासौ दमनो वीरः सर्वशूरशिरोमणिः
The charioteer brought the horses of the foremost in valor to the place where that subduer, the heroic and greatest of all warriors, stood.
गत्वा तमाह्वयामास राजपुत्रं रणोद्यतम् । रथे पुरटनिर्णिक्ते तिष्ठन्कोदंडदंडभृत्
Having arrived, he challenged the prince, who was ready for battle, standing on a chariot plated with gold, holding his mighty bow.
रे राजपुत्र क शिशो त्वया बद्धोऽश्वसत्तमः । न ज्ञातोसि महाराजः सर्ववीरेंद्र सेवितः
O prince, what child are you who has bound this excellent horse? You do not know the great king, served by all the foremost heroes.
यस्य प्रतापं दैत्येंद्रो न शक्तः सोढुमद्भुतम् । तस्य त्वं वाजिनं नीत्वा गतोऽसि पुटभेदनम्
The king whose might even the lord of the demons could not endure—his horse you have taken and come here to break the rules.
मां जानीहि पुरः प्राप्तं कालरूपं तु वैरिणम् । मुंचाश्वमर्भ गच्छाशु बालक्रीडनकं कुरु
Know me, now standing before you, as your enemy in the form of death. Release the horse, child, go quickly and play with your toys.
कस्यात्मजस्त्वं कुत्रत्यः कथं नोऽदीर्घदर्शिना । धृतोऽश्वस्त्वथ संजाता घृणा मम शिशो त्वयि
Whose son are you? Where are you from? Why, short-sighted one, have you seized the horse? Now, child, I feel pity for you.