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.
स गृह्णातु मदीयाद्धि पाणिपद्माच्च वीटकम् । तदा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्वीरो जग्राह क्रौंचभेदने
Let him take from my lotus hand the staff; then Lakshminidhi, the hero, took it to break the Krauncha formation.
सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रविद्वीरैर्बहुभिः परिवारितः । उवाच वचनं राजन्यास्येऽहं क्रौंचभेदने
Surrounded by many heroes skilled in all weapons and missiles, he said: 'I shall break the Krauncha formation in battle.'
भार्गवः पूर्वमेवासीत्क्रौंचभेत्ता तथा ह्यहम् । तथान्यं वीरमावोचत्कोऽस्य सार्धं गमिष्यति
'Bhargava was the first to break the Krauncha; so now shall I.' Then he asked another hero, 'Who will go with him?'
पुष्कलः पृष्ठतस्तस्य यातुं चक्रे मतिं ततः । रिपुतापो नीलरत्न उग्राश्वो वीरमर्दनः
Then Pushkala resolved to follow behind him; Riputapa, Nilaratna, Ugrashva, and Viramardana too.
सर्वे शत्रुघ्नसंदेशाद्ययुस्तत्क्रौंचभेदने । शत्रुघ्नोऽपि रथस्थश्च सर्वायुधधरः परः
All went, by Shatrughna's command, to break that Krauncha formation; Shatrughna himself, supreme, stood on his chariot, bearing all weapons.
पृष्ठतोऽस्य परीयाय बहुभिः सैनिकैर्वृतः । तदा प्रचलितौ दृष्टावन्योन्यबलवारिधी
He moved behind, surrounded by many soldiers; then both armies advanced, each measuring the other's strength and resolve.
प्रलयं कर्तुमुद्युक्तौ जगतः सुतरंगिणौ । तदा भेर्यः समाजघ्नुरुभयोः सेनयोर्दृढाः
Both mighty hosts, surging like great rivers, were eager to bring about destruction; then the war drums of both armies resounded fiercely.
रणभेर्यः शंखनादाः श्रूयंते तत्र तत्र ह । हेषंते वाजिनस्तत्र गर्जंति द्विरदा भृशम्
Battle drums and the blasts of conches were heard everywhere; there, the horses neighed and the elephants roared mightily.
हुं हुं कुर्वंति वीराग्र्या नदंति रथनेमयः । तत्र प्रकुपिताः शूराः सुबाहुबलदर्पिताः
The foremost heroes utter 'hum hum' and roar, while the wheels of their chariots thunder; there, the valiant warriors, proud of their strong arms and might, are enraged.
छिंधि भिंधीति भाषंतो दृश्यंते बहवो रणे । एवंभूते रणोद्युक्ते सैन्ये शत्रुघ्नवैरिणोः
Many are seen in battle, shouting 'cut! pierce!' as they fight; in such a state, with the army ready for war, the enemies of the foe are prepared.