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.
मम तावद्गतं चायुर्बहुरामवियोगिनः । स्वल्पमुर्वरितं तत्र कथं द्रक्ष्ये रघूत्तमम्
My life has mostly passed in separation from Rāma; only a little remains—how shall I see the best of the Raghu dynasty?
मह्यं दर्शयतं रामं यज्ञकर्मविचक्षणम् । यदंघ्रिरजसापूता शिलाभूता मुनिप्रिया
Show me Rāma, skilled in sacrificial rites, whose foot-dust sanctified the stone that became the sage’s beloved.
काकः परं पदं प्राप्तो यद्बाणस्पर्शनात्खगः । अनेके यस्य वक्त्राब्जं वीक्ष्य संख्ये पदं गताः
A crow attained the supreme state by the touch of his arrow; many, beholding his lotus face in battle, have reached that state.
ये त्वस्य रघुनाथस्य नाम गृह्णंति सादराः । ते यांति परमं स्थानं योगिभिर्यद्विचिंत्यते
Those who respectfully utter the name of this Lord of the Raghus attain the supreme abode, which is contemplated by yogis.
धन्यायोध्याभवा लोका ये राममुखपंजम् । स्वलोचनपुटैः पीत्वा सुखं यांति महोदयम्
Blessed are the people of Ayodhyā, who, drinking in the lotus face of Rāma with their own eyes, go happily to the highest prosperity.
इति संभाष्य नृपतिं वाहं राज्यं धनानि च । सर्वं समर्प्य चावोचत्किंकरोस्मि महीपते
Thus speaking to the king, I offered up the kingdom, the wealth, and everything, and declared: 'I am your servant, O lord of the earth.'
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राज्ञः परपुरंजयः । प्रत्युवाचेति तं भूपं वाग्मी वाक्यविशारदः
Hearing these words, the conqueror of enemy cities, eloquent and skilled in speech, replied to the king.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। कथं राजन्निदं ब्रूषे त्वं वृद्धो मम पूजितः । सर्वं त्वदीयं त्वद्राज्यं दमनो विदधात्वयम्
Śatrughna said: 'How is it, O king, that you speak thus, you who are aged and honored by me? All is yours, your kingdom—let Damanas manage it.'
क्षत्त्रियाणामिदं कृत्यं यत्संग्रामविधायकम् । सर्वं राज्यं धनं चेदं प्रतियातु ममाज्ञया
It is the duty of kṣatriyas to engage in battle; let all this kingdom and wealth return to you by my command.
यथा मे रघुनाथस्तु पूज्यो वाङ्मनसा सदा । तथा त्वमपि मत्पूज्यो भविष्यसि महीपते
As Rāma is always to be honored by my words and mind, so too, O king, you shall be honored by me.