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.
भवान्सज्जो भवत्वद्य हयस्यानुगमं प्रति । सन्नद्धः कवची खड्गी गजाश्वरथसंयुतः
Be ready today, equipped with armor and sword, accompanied by elephants, horses, and chariots, to follow the horse.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नस्य महीपतिः । पुत्रं राज्येऽभिषेच्यैव शत्रुघ्नेन सुपूजितः
Hearing these words of Śatrughna, the king, having installed his son on the throne, was duly honored by Śatrughna.
महारथैः परिवृतो निजं पुत्रं रणांगणे । पुष्कलेन हतं भूपः संस्कृत्य विधिपूर्वकम्
Surrounded by great chariot-warriors, the king performed the proper rites for his son Puṣkala, who had fallen on the battlefield.
क्षणं शुशोच तत्त्वज्ञो लोकदृष्ट्या महारथः । ज्ञानेनानाशयच्छोकं रघुनाथमनुस्मरन्
For a moment, the wise great chariot-warrior grieved, as is customary in the world; but by knowledge, remembering Raghunātha, he dispelled his sorrow.
सज्जीभूतो रथे तिष्ठन्महासैन्यसमावृतः । आजगाम स शत्रुघ्नं महारथिपुरस्कृतः
Ready for battle, standing on his chariot and surrounded by a great army, he approached Shatrughna, led by mighty warriors.
राजा तमागतं दृष्ट्वा सर्वसैन्यसमन्वितम् । गंतुं चकार धिषणां हयवर्यस्य पालने
Seeing him arrive with his entire army, the king resolved to set out, intent on protecting the noble horse.
सोऽश्वो विमोचितस्तेन भाले पत्रेण चिह्नितः । वामावर्तं भ्रमन्प्रायात्पौर्वाञ्जनपदान्बहून्
Then that horse was released, marked with a plate on its forehead, and, turning to the left, it proceeded through many eastern lands.
तत्रतत्रत्य भूपालैर्महाशूराभिपूजितैः । प्रणतिः क्रियते तस्य न कोपि तमगृह्णत
There, the local kings, honored by great heroes, offered their respects to it; but no one seized it.
केचिद्वासांसि चित्राणि केचिद्राज्यं स्वकं महत् । केचिद्धनं जनं केचिदानीय प्रणमंति तम्
Some brought splendid garments, some their vast kingdoms, others wealth or people, and all came to pay homage to it.
शेष उवाच। अथ तेजःपुरं प्राप्तस्तुरगः पत्रशोभितः । यस्यां पालयते राजा प्रजाः सत्येन सत्यवान्
Śeṣa said: Then the horse, adorned with the plate, reached Tejaspura, where the king, steadfast in truth, rules his people with righteousness.