अमात्यमादिदेशाथ सर्वं राजधनं महत् । गृहीत्वा तु मया सार्द्धमागच्छ त्वरया युतः
Then he ordered his minister: 'Take all the great royal wealth, and come with me at once, without delay.'
यास्येऽहं रघुनाथस्य हयं पालयितुं वरम् । कर्तुं च रामपादाब्जपरिचर्यां सुदुर्लभाम्
I will go to guard the horse of Raghunātha, and to perform the exceedingly rare service of Rāma's lotus feet.
इत्युक्त्वा निर्जगामाथ शत्रुघ्नं प्रति सैनिकैः । तावत्पुरीमथ प्राप्तो रामभ्राता ससैनिकः
Having spoken thus, he set out, with his soldiers, toward Śatrughna; and at that moment, Rāma's brother arrived at the city with his army.
वीरा गर्जंति प्रबला रथाः सुनिनदंति च । जयशंखस्वनास्तत्र वेणुनादाश्च सर्वतः
The mighty heroes roared, the chariots thundered loudly, and everywhere there were the victorious sounds of conch-shells and the music of flutes.
आगत्य सत्यवान्राजा मंत्रिभिः सुसमन्वितः । चरणे प्रणिपत्यास्मै राज्यं प्रादान्महाधनम्
The truthful king arrived, accompanied by his ministers; bowing at his feet, he gave him the kingdom and great wealth.
शत्रुघ्नस्तं तु राजानं ज्ञात्वा राममनुव्रतम् । तद्राज्यं तस्य पुत्राय रुक्मनाम्ने ददौ महत्
Śatrughna, knowing that king to be devoted to Rāma, gave that great kingdom to his son named Rukma.
हनूमंतं परीरभ्य सुबाहुं रामसेवकम् । अन्यान्वै रामभक्तांश्च परिरभ्य महायशाः
Embracing Hanuman, the strong-armed servant of Rama, and likewise embracing the other devotees of Rama, the illustrious one—
कृतार्थमिव चात्मानं मेने सत्यसमन्वितः । ननंद चेतसि तदा शत्रुघ्नेन समन्वितः
Endowed with truth, he considered himself fulfilled, and rejoiced in his heart, accompanied by Shatrughna.
हयस्तावद्गतो दूरं वीरैः सुपरिरक्षितः । शत्रुघ्नस्तेन भूपेन ययौ वीरसमन्वितः
Meanwhile, the horse had gone far, well-guarded by heroes; Shatrughna, with that king, went forth, accompanied by warriors.
इति श्रीपद्मपुराणे पातालखंडे शेषवात्स्यायनसंवादे रामाश्वमेधे सत्यवत्समागमोनाम द्वात्रिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the thirty-second chapter, entitled 'The Meeting with Satyavat at Rama's Ashvamedha,' in the dialogue between Shesha and Vatsyayana, in the Patalakhanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
शेष उवाच। गच्छत्सु रथिवर्येषु शत्रुघ्नादिषु भूरिषु । महाराजेषु सर्वेषु रथकोटियुतेषु च
Shesha said: As the foremost chariot-warriors—Shatrughna and the many great kings, all with countless chariots—were proceeding,
अकस्मादभवन्मार्गे तमः परमदारुणम् । यस्मिन्स्वीयो न पारक्यो लक्ष्यते ज्ञातिभिर्नरैः
Suddenly, on the road, there arose a darkness, exceedingly terrible, in which neither one's own people nor others could be recognized by their kin.
रजसा व्यावृतं व्योम विद्युत्स्तनितसंकुलम् । एतादृशे तु संमर्दे महाभयकरे ततः
The sky was obscured by dust, filled with lightning and thunder; in such a tumult, fraught with great terror,
मेघा वर्षंति रुधिरं पूयामेध्यादिकं बहु । अत्याकुला बभूवुस्ते वीराः परमवैरिणः
Clouds rained blood, pus, and much filth; those mighty warriors, fierce enemies, became greatly distressed.
आकुलीकृतलोके तु किमिदं किमिति स्थितिः । तमोव्याप्तानि लोकानां चक्षूंषि प्रथितौजसाम्
With the world thrown into confusion, people wondered, 'What is this? What is happening?' The eyes of all, even those of renowned might, were enveloped in darkness.
जहाराश्वं रावणस्य सुहृत्पातालसंस्थितः । विद्युन्मालीति विख्यातो राक्षसश्रेणिसंवृतः
Then Vidyunmali, famed among the hosts of Rakshasas and a friend of Ravana dwelling in the netherworld, seized the horse.
कामगे सुविमाने तु सर्वायसनिषेविणि । आरूढोऽश्वं तु वीराणां भयं कुर्वञ्जहार ह
Of his own will, he mounted a splendid aerial chariot, entirely made of iron, and, causing fear among the heroes, carried off the horse.
मुहूर्तात्तत्तमो नष्टमाकाशं विमलं बभौ । वीराः शत्रुघ्नमुख्यास्ते प्रोचुः कुत्र हयोऽस्ति सः
After a moment, that darkness vanished and the sky shone clear; the heroes, led by Shatrughna, asked, 'Where is that horse?'
ते सर्वे हयराजं तु लोकयंतः परस्परम् । ददृशुर्न यदा वाहं हाहाकारस्तदाभवत्
All of them, searching for the horse-king and questioning one another, when they did not see the steed, then there arose a great outcry.
कुत्राश्वो हयमेधस्य केन नीतः कुबुद्धिना । इति वाचमवोचंस्ते तावत्स दनुजेश्वरः
'Where is the horse of the Ashvamedha? By whom has it been taken, with evil intent?'—thus they spoke, when suddenly the lord of the Daityas appeared.
ददृशे सुभटैः सर्वै रथस्थैः शौर्यशोभितैः । विमानवरमारूढै राक्षसाग्र्यैः समावृतः
He was seen by all the valiant warriors, resplendent in their chariots, surrounded by the foremost Rakshasas, mounted on a splendid aerial chariot.
दुमुर्खा विकरालास्या लंबदंष्ट्रा भयानकाः । राक्षसास्तत्र दृश्यंते सैन्यग्रासाय चोद्यताः
There appeared Rakshasas, foolish, with terrifying faces and hanging fangs, dreadful, ready to devour the army.
तदा तं वेदयामासुः शत्रुघ्नं नृवरोत्तमम् । हयो नीतो न जानीमः खे विमानविलासिना
Then they informed Shatrughna, the best of men: 'The horse has been taken—we do not know where—by one delighting in aerial chariots.'
तमसा व्याकुलान्कृत्वा वीरानस्मान्समाययौ । जग्राह नृपशार्दूल हयं कुरु यथोचितम्
Having thrown us heroes into confusion with darkness, he approached; 'Seize the horse, O tiger among kings, and act as is proper.'
शत्रुघ्नस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा महारोषसमावृतः । कोऽस्त्येष राक्षसो यो मे हयं जग्राह वीर्यवान्
Hearing those words, Shatrughna, filled with great anger, said: 'Who is this mighty Rakshasa who has seized my horse?'
विमानं तत्पतत्वद्य मद्बाणव्रजनिर्हतम् । पतत्वद्य शिरस्तस्य क्षुरप्रैर्मम वैरिणः
Today let that flying chariot fall, struck down by my arrows; today let the head of my enemy fall, severed by my razor-sharp shafts.
सज्जीयंतां रथाः सर्वैर्महाशस्त्रास्त्रपूरिताः । यांतु तं प्रतिसंहर्तुं योद्धारो वाजिहारिणम्
Let the chariots be made ready, all equipped with great weapons and missiles; let the warriors go forth to recover the horse from its captor.
इत्युक्त्वा रोषताम्राक्ष उवाच निजमंत्रिणम् । नयानयविदं शूरं युद्धकार्यविशारदम्
Having spoken thus, his eyes red with wrath, he addressed his own minister, skilled in policy, courageous, and expert in the affairs of battle.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। मंत्रिन्कथय के योज्या राक्षसस्य वधोद्यताः । महाशस्त्रा महाशूराः परमास्त्रविदुत्तमाः
Shatrughna said: 'Minister, tell me who should be assigned to slay the Rakshasa—those who are mighty with weapons, supremely brave, and masters of all missiles.'
कथयाशु विचार्यैवं तत्करोमि भवद्वचः । वीरान्कथय तस्यैवं योग्यान्सर्वास्त्रकोविदान्
Consider this quickly and tell me; I will act according to your advice. Name those heroes who are fit for this, skilled in all weapons.