तं वीक्ष्य पतितं वीरः पुष्कलो भरतात्मजः । व्यगाहत व्यूहमिमं सर्ववीरैकशोभितम्
Beholding him fallen, Puṣkala, son of Bharata, bravely entered this formation, which was resplendent with many heroes.
शेष उवाच। अथ पुत्रं समालोक्य पतितं व्यसुमुद्धतम् । विललाप भृशं राजा सुतदुःखेन दुःखितः
Śeṣa said: Then, seeing his son fallen, lifeless and struck down, the king, afflicted by grief for his son, wept bitterly.
मूर्ध्नि संताडयामास पाणिभ्यामतिदुःखितः । कम्पमानो भृशं चाश्रूण्यमुञ्चन्नयनाब्जयोः
Greatly distressed, he struck his head with his hands, trembling intensely and shedding tears from his lotus-like eyes.
गृहीत्वा पतितं वक्त्रं चंद्रबिंबमनोरमम् । पुष्कलेषु क्षतासृग्भिः क्लिन्नं कुंडलशोभितम्
Taking up the fallen, lovely face, beautiful as the moon, of Puṣkala—moistened with blood from his wounds and adorned with earrings—
कुटिलभ्रूयुगं श्रेष्ठं संदष्टाधरपल्लवम् । स चुंबन्मुखपद्मेन विलपन्निदमब्रवीत्
With his excellent, arched brows and lips bitten in anger, the king kissed his son's lotus-like face and, lamenting, spoke these words:
हा पुत्र वीर कथमुत्सुकचेतसं मां । किं नेक्षसे विशदनेत्रयुगेन शूर । किं मद्विनोदकथयारहितस्त्वमेव । रोषोदधिप्लुतमनाः किल लक्ष्यसे च
Alas, my son, my hero, why do you not look upon me with your clear eyes, though my heart longs for you? Why do you, who once delighted me with your words, now appear as if your mind is submerged in the ocean of anger?
वद पुत्र कथं मां त्वं प्रब्रूषे न हसन्पुनः । अमृतैर्मधुरास्वादैर्विनोदयसि पुत्रक
Tell me, my son, why do you not speak to me again with a smile, gladdening me with your sweet words, like nectar?
शत्रुघ्नाश्वं गृहाण त्वं सितचामरशोभितम् । स्वर्णपत्रेण शोभाढ्यं त्यज निद्रां महामते
Take up Śatrughna’s horse, adorned with a white fly-whisk and golden trappings, and, O wise one, abandon sleep.
एष प्रतापविशदः प्रतापाग्र्यः परंतपः । धनुर्बिभ्रत्पुरो भाति पुष्कलः परवीरहा
Here stands Puṣkala, radiant with valor, foremost among the valiant, destroyer of enemies, shining before you with his bow.
एनं वारय सत्तीक्ष्णैर्बाणैः कोदंडनिर्गतैः । कथं त्वं रणमध्ये वै शेते वीरविमोहितः
Ward him off with sharp arrows released from your bow; how can you, deluded hero, lie in the midst of battle?
हस्तिनः पत्तयश्चैव रथारूढा भयार्दिताः । शरणं त्वां समायांति तानीक्षस्व महामते
Elephants, infantry, and chariot warriors, terrified, come to you for refuge; look upon them, O wise one.
पुत्र त्वया विना सोढुं कथं शक्तो रणांगणे । शत्रुघ्नसायकांस्तीक्ष्णांश्चंडकोदंडनिर्गतान्
My son, how can I endure in the field of battle without you, facing the sharp arrows shot from Śatrughna’s mighty bow?
अतो मां तु त्वया हीनं को वा पालयितुं क्षमः । यदि त्यक्ष्यसि निद्रा त्वं जयायाहं क्षमस्तदा
Now, deprived of you, who is able to protect me? If you abandon sleep, then I am able to achieve victory.
इत्थं विलप्य सुभृशं तताड हृदयं स्वकम् । बहुशः पाणिना राजा पुत्रदुःखेन दुःखितः
Thus lamenting greatly, the king, afflicted by grief for his son, struck his own heart many times with his hand.
तदा विचित्र दमनौ स्व स्व स्यंदनसंस्थितौ । पितुश्चरणयोर्नत्वा ऊचतुः समयोचितम्
Then the two, Damanas, standing each in their own chariot, bowed at their father’s feet and spoke words appropriate to the moment.
राजन्नस्मासु जीवत्सु किं दुःखं हृदि तद्वद । वीराणां प्रधने मृत्युर्वांच्छितो जायते महान्
O king, while we are still alive, what sorrow remains in your heart? For great warriors, death in battle is a much-desired fate.
धन्योऽयं बत चित्रांगो यो वीर भुवि शोभते । सकिरीटस्तु संदष्टदंतच्छदयुगः प्रभुः
Fortunate indeed is Citrāṅga, O hero, who shines upon the earth, crowned, his teeth clenched in determination, a mighty lord.
कथयाशु किमद्यैव कुर्वस्ते कार्यमीप्सितम् । शत्रुघ्नवाहिनीं सर्वां हन्व आवामनाथिनीम्
Tell me quickly—what is it you wish to accomplish today? Shall I destroy Shatrughna's entire army, now left without its master?
अद्यैव पुष्कलं भ्रातुर्वधकारिणमाहवे । पातयावो रथाच्छित्त्वा शिरोमुकुटमंडितम्
Today itself, let us bring down Puṣkala, the slayer of your brother, from his chariot in battle, severing his head adorned with a jeweled crown.
त्यज शोकं सुदुःखार्तः कथं भासि महामते । आज्ञापयावां मानार्ह कुरु युद्धे मतिं तथा
Abandon your sorrow, though you are deeply afflicted; why do you speak so, O wise one? Command us, worthy lord—fix your mind on battle.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य पुत्रयोर्वीरमानिनोः । शोकं त्यक्त्वा महाराजो युद्धाय मतिमादधात्
Hearing these words from his valiant sons, the great king cast off his grief and set his mind upon war.
तावपि प्रतियोद्धारं वांच्छंतौ रणदुर्मदौ । जग्मतुः कटके शत्रोरनंतभटपूरिते
Those two, eager for combat and intoxicated by the battle, entered the army of the enemy, filled with countless warriors.
रिपुतापेन दमनो नीलरत्नेन चेतरः । युयुधाते रणे वीरौ प्रावृषीव बलाहकौ
One, wearing a blue gem, subdued by the pain of the enemy; the other, both heroes, fought in battle like storm clouds in the rainy season.
राजा कनकसन्नद्धे रथे मणिविचित्रिते । रत्नकूबरशोभाढ्ये तिष्ठंश्चापधरो बली
The king, standing on a chariot adorned with gold and jewels, radiant with a jeweled banner, held his bow, mighty in strength.
ययौ योद्धुं तु शत्रुघ्नं वीरकोटभिरावृतम् । तृणीकुर्वन्महावीरान्धनुर्विद्याविशारदान्
He advanced to fight Shatrughna, surrounded by hosts of heroes, regarding even the greatest warriors, skilled in archery, as mere grass.
तं योद्धुमागतं दृष्ट्वा सुबाहुं रोषपूरितम् । पुत्रनाशेन कुर्वंतं सर्वसैन्यवधादिकम्
Seeing Subāhu, filled with rage, come to fight, intent on avenging his son's death by destroying the entire army—
शत्रुघ्नपार्श्वसंचारी हनूमांस्तमुपाद्रवत् । नखायुधो महानादं कुर्वन्मेघ इवाहवे
Hanuman, moving at Shatrughna's side, rushed at him, his nails as weapons, roaring mightily like a thundercloud in battle.
सुबाहुस्तं हनूमंतमागच्छंतं महारवम् । उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं रोषपूरितलोचनः
Subāhu, seeing Hanuman approaching with a great roar, spoke, laughing, his eyes blazing with anger.
क्व गतः पुष्कलो हत्वा मत्पुत्रं रणमंडले । पातयाम्यद्य तस्याशु शिरो ज्वलितकुंडलम्
Where has Puṣkala gone, who killed my son on the battlefield? Today I will swiftly strike down his head, with its blazing earrings.
क्व शत्रुघ्नो वाहपालः क्व च रामः कुतो भटाः । प्राणहंतारमायांतं पश्यंतु प्रधने तु माम्
Where is Shatrughna, the commander? Where is Rama? Where are the warriors? Let them see me, the destroyer of life, coming into the thick of battle.