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.
मुखसंस्थं सुकेतुं तं लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच ह । लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच। जनकस्य सुतं विद्धि लक्ष्मीनिधिरिति स्मृतम्
Lakshminidhi, the treasury of fortune, spoke to Suketu, who stood before him: 'Know that I am Lakshminidhi, remembered as the son of Janaka.'
सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकुशलं सर्वयुद्धविशारदम् । मुंचाश्वं रामचंद्रस्य सर्वदानवदंशितुः
Skilled in all weapons and missiles, expert in every kind of battle, release the horse of Ramachandra, the destroyer of all demons.
नोचेन्मद्बाणनिर्भिन्नो यास्यसे यमसादनम् । इति ब्रुवंतं वीराग्र्यं सुकेतुः सहसा त्वरन्
Otherwise, pierced by my arrows, you will go to the abode of Yama; thus, as the foremost hero spoke, Suketu swiftly hastened.
सज्यं चापं विधायाशु बाणान्मुंचन्स्थिरोऽभवत् । ते बाणाः शितपर्वाणः स्वर्णपुंखाः समंततः
He quickly readied his bow, strung it, and released arrows, standing firm; those arrows, with sharp tips and golden shafts, flew everywhere.
दृश्यंते व्यापिनस्तत्र रणमध्ये सुदुर्भराः । तद्बाणजालं तरसा निहत्य । लक्ष्मीनिधिश्चापमथा ततज्यम् । विधाय तस्योरसि बाणषट्कं । मुमोच तीक्ष्णं शितपर्वशोभितम्
Those arrows, spreading in the midst of battle, were exceedingly difficult to withstand; Lakshminidhi, breaking through that stream of arrows with force, then strung his bow, and released six sharp, gleaming arrows at Suketu's chest.
तद्बाणाः सुभुजभ्रातुर्हृदयं संविदार्य च । गतास्ते भुवि दृश्यंते रुधिराक्ता मलीमसाः
Those arrows, tearing the heart of Suketu, the strong-armed brother, fell to the earth, seen covered in blood and filth.
तद्बाणभिन्नहृदयः सुकेतुः कोपपूरितः । जघानशरविंशत्या तीक्ष्णया नतपर्वया
Suketu, his heart pierced by those arrows and filled with rage, struck back with twenty sharp, curved arrows.
उभौ बाणविभिन्नांगावुभौ क्षतजविप्लुतौ । सैनिकैः परिदृश्यंते किंशुकाविव पुष्पितौ
Both, their limbs pierced by arrows, both drenched in blood, were seen by the soldiers like blossoming kimshuka trees.
मुंचंतौ बाणकोटीश्च संदधंतौ त्वरा शरान् । न केनापि विलक्ष्येते लघुहस्तौ महाबलौ
As they released countless arrows and swiftly prepared more, neither could be distinguished by anyone, for their hands were light and their strength immense.
कुंडलीकृत सच्चापौ वर्षंतौ बाणधारया । नवांबुदाविव दिवि शक्रनिर्देशकारिणौ
With bows curved and ready, they rained streams of arrows, like two fresh clouds in the sky, acting as if directed by Indra.