तदा तु पर्वताः पेतुर्मस्तकोपरि युध्यताम् । वायुः संच्छादितस्तैस्तु न प्रचक्राम कुत्रचित्
Then mountains fell upon the heads of the warriors fighting there; the wind, covered by them, could no longer move anywhere.
पुष्कलो वज्रसंज्ञं तु समाधत्त शरासने । वज्रेण कृत्तास्ते सर्वे जाताश्च तिलशः क्षणात्
Pushkala took up the weapon named Vajra on his bow; with the Vajra, all those mountains were instantly shattered to pieces.
वज्रं नगान्रजः शेषान्कृत्वा बाणाभिमंत्रितम् । राजपुत्रोरसि प्रोच्चैः पपात स्वनवद्भृशम्
The Vajra, having reduced the mountains to dust, empowered by mantras, fell with a great sound upon the prince’s chest.
सत्वाकुलितचेतस्को हृदि विद्धः क्षतो भृशम् । विव्यथे बलवान्वीरः कश्मलं परमाप सः
His mind shaken, pierced deeply in the heart and badly wounded, the mighty hero suffered greatly and fell into a swoon.
तं वै कश्मलितं दृष्ट्वा सारथिर्नयकोविदः । अपोवाह रणात्तस्मात्क्रोशमात्रं नरेंद्रजम्
Seeing him unconscious, the wise charioteer quickly carried the prince a short distance away from the battlefield.
ततो योधा राजसूनोः प्रणष्टाः प्रपलायिताः । गत्वा पुरीं समाचख्युः कश्मलस्थं नृपात्मजम्
Then the warriors of the prince, defeated and fleeing, went to the city and reported that the royal son was lying senseless.
पुष्कलो जयमाप्यैवं रणमूर्धनि धर्मवित् । न प्रहर्तुं पुनः शक्तो रघुनाथवचः स्मरन्
Thus, Pushkala, having won victory at the height of battle and mindful of Raghunatha’s command, was unable to strike again.
ततो दुंदुभिनिर्घोषो जयशब्दो महानभूत् । साधुसाध्विति वाचश्च प्रावर्तंत मनोहराः
Then there arose the sound of drums and a great cry of victory, and delightful voices exclaimed, 'Well done! Well done!'
हर्षं प्राप स शत्रुघ्नो जयिनं वीक्ष्य पुष्कलम् । प्रशशंस सुमत्यादि मंत्रिभिः परिवारितः
Shatrughna, seeing Pushkala victorious, was filled with joy and, surrounded by his wise ministers, praised Sumati and the others.
शेष उवाच। अथ वीक्ष्य भटान्निजान्नृपो रुधिरौघेण परिप्लुतांगकान् । सुखमाप न वै शुशोच तान्परिपप्रच्छ सुतस्य चेष्टितम्
Shesha said: Then the king, seeing his warriors with bodies drenched in streams of blood, felt no sorrow but questioned them about his son’s actions.
गदताखिलकर्म तस्य वै स कथं चाहरदश्ववर्यकम् । कथयंतु पुनः कियद्बलं बत वीराः कति योद्धुमागताः
As they recounted all his deeds, he asked how he had taken the excellent horse, and again inquired how many strong warriors had come to fight.
अथ शत्रुबलोन्मुखः कथं मम वीरो दमनो रणं व्यधात् । विजयं च विधाय दुर्जयं किल वीरं बत कोऽप्यशातयत्
And how did my heroic Daman, facing the enemy’s strength, conduct himself in battle? Having achieved a difficult victory, which hero managed to defeat him?
इत्याकर्ण्य वचो राज्ञः प्रत्यूचुस्तेऽस्य सेवकाः । क्षतजेन परिक्लिन्न गात्रवस्त्रादिधारिणः
Hearing the king’s words, his servants replied, their bodies and garments stained with blood from their wounds.
राजन्नश्वं समालोक्य पत्रचिह्नाद्यलंकृतम् । ग्राहयामास गर्वेण तृणीकृत्य रघूत्तमम्
O King, seeing the horse adorned with marks and ornaments, he seized it proudly, disregarding the best of the Raghus.
ततो हयानुगः प्राप्तः स्वल्पसैन्यसमावृतः । तेन साकमभूद्युद्धं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्
Then, accompanied by horsemen and surrounded by a small force, he arrived; a tumultuous and hair-raising battle took place with him.
तं मूर्च्छितं ततः कृत्वा तव पुत्रः स्वसायकैः । यावत्तिष्ठत्यथायातः शत्रुघ्नः स्वबलैर्वृतः
Then your son, having rendered him unconscious with his own arrows, stood his ground until Shatrughna arrived, surrounded by his own troops.
ततो युद्धं महदभूच्छस्त्रास्त्रपरिबृंहितम् । बहुशो जयमापेदे तव पुत्रो महाबलः
Then a great battle ensued, filled with weapons and missiles; your mighty son repeatedly gained victory.
इदानीं तेन मुक्त्वास्त्रं शत्रुघ्नभ्रातृसूनुना । मूर्च्छितः प्रधने राजन्कृतो वीरः सुतस्तव
Now, O King, when Shatrughna's brother's son released a missile, your heroic son was rendered unconscious in the thick of battle.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य रोषशोकसमन्वितः । स्थगितांग इवासीत्स समुद्र इव पर्वणि
Hearing these words, he was filled with anger and sorrow, and stood motionless like the ocean at the time of the tide.
उवाच सेनाधिपतिं रोषप्रस्फुरिताधरः । दन्तैर्दताँल्लिहन्नोष्ठं जिह्वया शोककर्शितः
With lips trembling in rage, biting his lip with his teeth, and his tongue emaciated by grief, he spoke to the commander of the army.
सेनापते कुरुष्वारान्मम सेनां तु सज्जिताम् । योत्स्ये रामस्य सुभटैर्ममपुत्रोपघातकैः
Commander, prepare my army for battle; I will fight with Rama's mighty warriors, those who have struck down my son.
अद्याहं मम पुत्रस्य दुःखदं निशितैः शरैः । पातयिष्ये यदि ह्येनं रक्षितापि महेश्वरः
Today, with sharp arrows, I will bring down the one who has caused pain to my son, even if he is protected by Maheshvara.
सेनापतिरिदं वाक्यं प्रोक्तं सुभुजभूपतेः । निशम्य च तथा कृत्वा सज्जीभूतो भवत्स्वयम्
Hearing these words spoken by the strong-armed king, the commander made all preparations and himself became ready.
राज्ञे निवेदयामास ससज्जां चतुरंगिणीम् । सेनां कालबलप्रख्यां हतदुर्जनकोटिकाम्
He informed the king and made ready the fourfold army, renowned for its might as Time itself, which had destroyed countless evil foes.
श्रुत्वा सेनापतेर्वाक्यं सुबाहुः परवीरहा । निर्जगाम ततो यत्र शत्रुघ्नः स्वसुतार्दनः
Hearing the commander's words, Subahu, destroyer of enemy heroes, set out to where Shatrughna, the slayer of his own son, was.
कुंजरैश्च मदोन्मत्तैर्हयैश्चापि मनोजवैः । रथैश्च सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितै रिपुजेतृभिः
With elephants maddened by rut, horses swift as the mind, and chariots filled with all weapons and missiles, the army advanced, eager for victory over the foe.
भूश्चकंपे तदा तत्र सैन्यभारेण भूरिणा । संमर्दः सुमहानासीत्तत्र सैन्ये विसर्पति
Then, under the great weight of the army, the earth trembled there; a tremendous clash arose as the armies pressed against each other.
राजानं निर्गतं दृष्ट्वा रथेन कनकांगिना । शत्रुघ्नबलमुद्युक्तं सर्ववैरिप्रहारकम्
Seeing the king depart in a chariot adorned with gold, Shatrughna's army, ready and able to strike down all enemies, prepared itself.
सुकेतुस्तस्य वै भ्राता गदायुद्धविशारदः । रथेनाश्वा जगामायं सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितः
Suketus, his brother, skilled in mace combat, came forth in a chariot drawn by horses, equipped with all weapons and missiles.
चित्रांगस्तु सुतो राज्ञः सर्वयुद्धविचक्षणः । जगाम स्वरथेनाशु शत्रुघ्नबलमुन्मदम्
Chitranga, the king's son, expert in all forms of battle, swiftly advanced in his own chariot, his mind set on Shatrughna's army.