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.
तस्यानुजो विचित्राख्यो विचित्ररणकोविदः । ययौ रथेन हैमेन भ्रातृदुःखेन पीडितः
His younger brother, named Vichitra, skilled in wondrous battle, went forth in a golden chariot, afflicted by his brother's sorrow.
अन्ये शूरा महेष्वासाः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदाः । ययुर्नृपसमादिष्टाः प्रधनं वीरपूरितम्
Other heroic, great-armed archers, skilled in all weapons and missiles, went forth as ordered by the king into the battle filled with warriors.
राजा सुबाहुः संरोषादागतः प्रधनांगणे । विलोकयामास सुतं मूर्च्छितं शरपीडितम्
King Subahu, filled with anger, entered the main battlefield and saw his son, unconscious and wounded by arrows.
रथोपस्थस्थितं मूढं स्वसुतं दमनाभिधम् । वीक्ष्य दुःखं मुहुः प्राप वीजयामास पल्लवैः
Seeing his own son Daman, senseless and lying in the chariot, the king was repeatedly overcome with grief and fanned him with leaves.
जलेन सिक्तः संस्पृष्टो राज्ञा कोमलपाणिना । संज्ञामाप शनैर्वीरो दमनः परमास्त्रवित्
Sprinkled with water and touched by the king's gentle hand, the heroic Daman, master of supreme weapons, slowly regained consciousness.
उत्थितः क्व धनुर्मेऽस्ति क्व पुष्कल इतो गतः । संसज्य समरं त्यक्त्वा मद्बाणव्रणपीडितः
Rising up, he said, 'Where is my bow? Where has Pushkala gone from here? Having abandoned the battle, he is tormented by wounds from my arrows.'
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुबाहुः पुत्रभाषितम् । परमं हर्षमापेदे परिरभ्य सुतं स्वकम्
Hearing these words spoken by his son, Subahu was filled with great joy and embraced his son.
दमनो वीक्ष्य जनकं नृपं नम्रशिरोधरः । पपात पादयोर्भक्त्या क्षतदेहोऽस्त्रराजिभिः
Daman, seeing his father the king, bowed his head and fell at his feet with devotion, his body wounded by many weapons.
स्वसुतं रथसंस्थं तु विधाय नृपतिः पुनः । जगाद सेनाधिपतिं रणकर्मविशारदः
The king, after seating his own son again in the chariot, spoke to the commander of the army, who was skilled in the art of war.
व्यूहं रचय संग्रामे क्रौंचाख्यं रिपुदुर्जयम् । यमाविश्य जये सैन्यं शत्रुघ्नस्य महीपतेः
Arrange the battle formation called Krauncha, which is difficult for enemies to defeat in war; let the army of King Shatrughna enter it for victory.
तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य सुबाहुभूपतेः । क्रौंचाख्यसद्व्यूहविशेषमादधात् । यन्नो विशंते सहसा रिपोर्गणा । महाबलाः शस्त्रसमूहधारिणः
Hearing these words of King Subahu, he arranged the special Krauncha formation, into which the powerful hosts of enemies, bearing many weapons, would suddenly enter.
मुखे सुकेतुस्तस्यासीद्गले चित्रांगसंज्ञकः । पक्षयो राजपुत्रौ द्वौ पुच्छे राजा प्रतिष्ठितः
At the head was Suketu, at the neck was Citranga, the two princes were on the wings, and the king himself was stationed at the rear.
मध्ये सैन्यं महत्तस्य चतुरंगैस्तु शोभितम् । कृत्वा न्यवेदयद्राज्ञे क्रौंचव्यूहं विचित्रितम्
In the center was his great army, adorned with all four divisions; having arranged this, he reported the splendid Krauncha formation to the king.
राजा दृष्ट्वा सुसन्नद्धं क्रौंचव्यूहं सुनिर्मितम् । रणाय स्वमतिं चक्रे शत्रुघ्नकटके स्थितैः
The king, seeing the well-formed and excellently arranged Krauncha formation, resolved upon battle with those stationed in Shatrughna's camp.
शेष उवाच। शत्रुघ्नस्तद्बलं दृष्ट्वा भीषणाकृतिमेघवत् । हस्त्यश्वरथपादातैर्बहुभिः परिवारितम्
Shesha said: Shatrughna, seeing that army—fearsome as a storm cloud, surrounded by many elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers—
सुमतिं प्रत्युवाचेदं वचोगंभीरशब्दयुक् । नानावाक्यविचारज्ञैः पंडितैः परिसेवितः
Addressed Sumati in a voice deep as thunder, surrounded by learned men skilled in discerning various statements.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। सुमते कस्य नगरं प्राप्तो मे हयसत्तमः । बलमेतन्निरीक्षेहं पयोदधितरंगवत्
Shatrughna said: Sumati, to whose city has my excellent horse come? I wish to observe this army, surging like the waves of the ocean.
कस्यैतद्बलमुद्धर्षं चतुरंगसमन्वितम् । पुरतो भाति युद्धाय समुपस्थितमादरात्
Whose is this formidable army, equipped with all four divisions, that shines before us, ready for battle with great enthusiasm?
एतत्सर्वं समाचक्ष्व यथावत्पृच्छतो मम । यज्ज्ञात्वा युद्धसंस्थायै निर्दिशामि स्वकान्भटान्
Tell me all this exactly as I ask, so that, knowing it, I may direct my warriors to prepare for battle.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुमतिः शुभबुद्धिमान् । उवाच वचनं प्रीतः शत्रुघ्नं वैरितापनम्
Hearing these words, wise-minded Sumati, pleased, spoke to Shatrughna, the subduer of enemies.