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.
सुमतिरुवाच। चक्रांका नगरी राजन्वर्तते सविधे शुभा । यस्यां संति नराः पापरहिता विष्णुभक्तितः
Sumati said: O King, there is a splendid city marked by the discus, where dwell men free from sin through devotion to Vishnu.
तस्याः पुर्याः पतिरयं सुबाहुर्धर्मवित्तमः । तवायं पुरतो भाति पुत्रपौत्रसमावृतः
The lord of that city is this Subahu, foremost knower of righteousness; he stands before you, surrounded by sons and grandsons.
स्वदारनिरतो नित्यं परदारपराङ्मुखः । विष्णोः कथास्य कर्णस्थाना परार्थप्रकाशिनी
He is ever devoted to his own wife, turning away from others' wives; the stories of Vishnu are ever in his ears, illuminating the good of others.
परस्वं न समादत्ते षष्ठांशादधिकं नृपः । ब्राह्मणा विष्णुभक्त्यैव पूज्यंते तेन धर्मिणा
This righteous king does not take others' wealth, nor more than the sixth part; he honors Brahmins solely through devotion to Vishnu.
नित्यं सेवारतो विष्णुपादपद्ममधुव्रतः । एष स्वधर्मनिरतः परधर्मपराङ्मुखः
Always intent on service, like a bee at Vishnu's lotus feet, he is devoted to his own duty, turning away from the duties of others.
एतस्य बलतुल्यं हि न वीराणां बलं क्वचित् । पुत्रस्य पतनं श्रुत्वा रोषशोकसमाकुलः
Nowhere is the strength of heroes equal to his; hearing of his son's fall, he is overcome with anger and grief.
चतुरंगसमेतोऽयं युद्धाय समुपस्थितः । तवापि वीरा बहवो लक्ष्मीनिधिमुखा अमून्
He has come to battle with a fourfold army; you too have many heroes, foremost among them Lakshminidhi.
जेष्यंति शस्त्रसंघेन निर्दिशाशु परं हि तान् । शत्रुघ्नस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा प्रोवाच स्वभटान्वरान्
They will swiftly defeat those foes with a multitude of weapons; Shatrughna, hearing these words, spoke to his best warriors.
रणप्राप्तिभवोद्धर्षपूरपूरितमानसान् । क्रौंचव्यूहोऽद्य रचितः सुबाहुपरिसैनिकैः
Their minds filled with the surge of excitement at the prospect of battle; today the Krauncha formation is arranged by Subahu's soldiers.
मुखपक्षस्थिता योधास्तान्को भेत्स्यति शस्त्रवित् । यस्य भेदे निजा शक्तिर्यो वीर विजयोद्यतः
The warriors stationed at the wings—let the master of weapons break them; whoever has the power to breach their ranks, that hero shall strive for victory.