चंदनं चंद्रकं चैव वाजिनः सुमनोहराः । हस्तिनस्तु मदोद्धूता रथाः कांचनकूबराः
Sandalwood, moonstones, and charming horses; elephants intoxicated, chariots with golden yokes—
विचित्रतरवर्णादि नानाभूषणभूषिताः । दास्यः शतसहस्रं च दासाश्च सुमनोरमाः
Adorned with various colors and many ornaments; a hundred thousand maidservants and delightful servants—
मणयः सूर्यसंकाशा रत्नानि विविधानि च । मुक्ताफलानि शुभ्राणि गजकुंभभवानि च
Jewels shining like the sun, various gems, pure pearls born from elephant trunks—
विद्रुमाः शतसाहस्रा यद्यद्वस्तुमहोदयम् । तत्सर्वं रामचंद्राय देहि राजन्महामते
Corals by the hundred thousand, and whatever objects bring prosperity; O wise king, give all these to Rama Chandra.
सुतानस्मान्किंकरान्नः सर्वानर्पय भूपते । कथं न कुरुषेराजंस्तदधीनं नृपासनम्
Offer your sons, us, your servants—all to him, O ruler; why not make the throne subject to him?
शेष उवाच। इति पुत्रवचः श्रुत्वा हर्षितोऽभून्महीपतिः । उवाच च सुतान्वीरान्स्ववाक्यकरणोद्यतान्
Śeṣa said: Hearing these words of his sons, the king became joyful and spoke to his heroic sons, eager to carry out his command.
राजोवाच। आनयंतु हयं सर्वे सन्नद्धाः शस्त्रपाणयः । नानारथपरीवारास्ततो यास्ये नृपं प्रति
The king said: Let all bring the horse, armed and ready, surrounded by various chariots; then I will go to the king.
शेष उवाच। इति राज्ञोवचः श्रुत्वा विचित्रो दमनस्तथा । सुकेतुः समरे शूरा जग्मुस्तस्याज्ञयोद्यताः
Śeṣa said: Hearing the king's command, Daman and likewise the valiant Suketu, prepared for battle, went forth at his order.
ते गत्वाथ पुरीं शूरा वाजिनं सुमनोरमम् । सितचामरसंयुक्तं स्वर्णपत्राद्यलंकृतम्
Then those valiant men went to the city and brought the splendid horse, adorned with white yak-tails and decorated with golden ornaments.
रत्नमालाविभूषाढ्यं चित्रपत्रेणशोभितम् । विचित्रमणिभूषाढ्यं मुक्ताजालस्वलंकृतम्
It was embellished with strings of jewels, shining with a painted covering, adorned with various precious gems, and decorated with nets of pearls.
रज्ज्वा धृतं महावीरैः पूर्वतः पृष्ठतो भटैः । महाशस्त्रास्त्रसंयुक्तैः सर्वशोभासमन्वितैः
Held by a rope by great warriors, with soldiers before and behind, equipped with mighty weapons and missiles, all resplendent in their array.
सितातपत्रमस्योच्चैर्भाति मूर्धनि वाजिनः । सुचामरद्वयं यस्य ध्रियते पुरतो मुहुः
A white parasol shone high above the horse’s head, and two fine yak-tails were repeatedly waved before it.
कृष्णागर्वादिधूपैश्च धूपितं वायुवेगिनम् । राज्ञः पुरो निनायाश्वं हयमेधस्य सत्क्रतोः
Perfumed with incense of black aloe and other fragrances, the swift horse was led before the king, the noble performer of the horse sacrifice.
तमानीतं हयं दृष्ट्वा रत्नमालाविभूषितम् । मनोजवं कामरूपं जहर्ष मतिमान्नृपः
Seeing the horse brought, adorned with strings of jewels, swift as thought and able to take any form, the wise king rejoiced.
जगाम पद्भ्यां शत्रुघ्नं राजचिह्नाद्यलंकृतः । स्वपुत्रपौत्रैः संयुक्तो राजा परमधार्मिकः
The supremely righteous king, adorned with royal insignia, approached Shatrughna on foot, accompanied by his sons and grandsons.
ययौ कर्तुं धनानां स सद्व्ययं चलगामिनाम् । एतद्विनश्वरं मत्वा दुःखदं सक्तचेतसाम्
He went to make proper use of his wealth, recognizing that these fleeting riches bring sorrow to those whose hearts are attached.
शत्रुघ्नं स ददर्शाथ सितच्छत्रेण शोभितम् । चामरैर्वीज्यमानञ्च सेवकैः पुरतः स्थितैः
There he saw Shatrughna, radiant beneath a white parasol, fanned with yak-tails by attendants standing before him.
सुमतिं परिपृच्छंतं रामचंद्रकथानकम् । भयवार्ताविनिर्मुक्तं वीरशोभास्वलंकृतम्
He was asking Sumati about the stories of Rama, free from any news of fear, adorned with the splendor of heroism.
वीरैः कोटिभिराकीर्णं वाजिपालनकांक्षिभिः । वानराणां सहस्रैश्च समंतात्परिवारितम्
He was surrounded on all sides by millions of warriors eager to guard the horse, and by thousands of monkeys.
दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नचरणौ प्रणनाम सपुत्रकः । धन्योऽहमिति संहृष्टो वदन्रामैकमानसः
Seeing Shatrughna’s feet, he bowed down with his sons, saying joyfully, 'I am blessed,' his mind fixed solely on Rama.
शत्रुघ्नस्तं प्रणयिनं दृष्ट्वा राजानमुद्भटम् । उत्थायासनतः सर्वैर्भटैर्दोर्भ्यां स सस्वजे
Shatrughna, seeing that devoted and eminent king, rose from his seat and embraced him with both arms before all the warriors.
दृढं संपूज्य राजा तं शत्रुघ्नं परवीरहा । उवाच हर्षमापन्नो गद्गदस्वरया गिरा
The king, having duly honored Shatrughna, the slayer of enemy heroes, spoke with a voice choked with emotion, filled with joy.
सुबाहुरुवाच। अद्य धन्योस्मि ससुतः सकुटुंबः सवाहनः । यद्युष्मच्चरणौ द्रक्ष्ये नृपकोटिभिरीडितौ
Subahu said: 'Today I am blessed, with my sons, family, and mounts, if I may behold your feet, praised by millions of kings.'
अज्ञानिना सुतेनायं गृहीतो वाजिनां वरः । दमनेनानयं त्वस्य क्षमस्व करुणानिधे
'This best of horses was seized by my ignorant son; forgive this offense, O ocean of compassion, and show mercy.'
न जानाति रघूत्तंसं सर्वदेवाधिदैवतम् । लीलया विश्वस्रष्टारं हंतारमपि पालकम्
'He does not know the ornament of the Raghu line, the supreme deity of all the gods, the playful creator of the universe, its destroyer and protector.'
इदं राज्यं समृद्धांगं समृद्धबलवाहनम् । इमे कोशा धनैः पूर्णा इमे पुत्रा इमे वयम्
'This kingdom is prosperous and strong, with mighty armies and vehicles; these treasuries are filled with wealth; these are my sons, and here are we.'
सर्वे वयं रामनाथास्त्वदाज्ञा प्रतिपालकाः । गृहाण सर्वं सफलं न मेऽस्ति क्वचिदुन्मतम्
We are all servants of Rāma, upholders of your command; accept everything as fruitful—there is nothing in me that is mad or misguided.
क्वासौ हनूमान्रामस्य चरणांभोजषट्पदः । यत्प्रसादादहं प्राप्स्ये राजराजस्य दर्शनम्
Where is Hanumān, the bee at Rāma’s lotus feet, by whose grace I shall obtain an audience with the king of kings?
साधूनां संगमे किं किं प्राप्यते न महीतले । यत्प्रसादादहं मूढो ब्रह्मशापमतीतरम्
What is not attained on earth through the company of the virtuous? By their grace, I, though deluded, have crossed beyond the curse of Brahmā.
दृष्ट्वा त्वद्य महाराजं पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणम् । प्राप्स्यामि जन्मनः सर्वं फलं दुर्लभमत्र च
Having seen you today, O great king, whose gaze is like a lotus petal, I shall obtain in this very life all the rare fruits of birth.