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.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु सचिवः प्राह वाक्यं यथोचितम् । वीरान्रणवरे योग्यान्दर्शयंस्तरसा नतान्
Hearing this, the minister spoke appropriate words, swiftly pointing out the heroes fit for the battle, bowing before him.
सुमतिरुवाच। जेतुं गच्छतु तद्रक्षः समरे विजयोद्यतः । महाशस्त्रास्त्रसंयुक्तः पुष्कलः परतापनः
Sumati said: 'Let Pushkala, mighty in weapons and missiles, go forth to conquer that Rakshasa in battle, intent on victory and scorching his foes.'
तथा लक्ष्मीनिधिर्यातु शस्त्रसंघसमन्वितः । करोतु तस्य यानस्य भंगं तीक्ष्णैः स्वसायकैः
Likewise, let Lakshminidhi go, armed with a multitude of weapons; let him shatter the enemy’s vehicle with his sharp arrows.
हनूमान्धृष्टकर्मात्र राक्षसैर्योधितुं क्षमः । करोतु मुखपुच्छाभ्यां ताडनं रक्षसां प्रभो
Here is Hanuman, bold in action, able to fight the Rakshasas; let him strike the demons with his face and tail, O lord.
वानरा अपि ये वीरा रणकर्मविशारदाः । गच्छंतु तेऽखिला योद्धुं तववाक्यप्रणोदिताः
Let all those valiant Vanaras, skilled in the art of battle, go forth to fight, inspired by your command.
सुमदश्च सुबाहुश्च प्रतापाग्र्यश्च सत्तमाः । गच्छंतु सायकैस्तीक्ष्णैस्तान्योद्धुं राक्षसाधमान्
Let Sumada, Subahu, and the foremost, most powerful heroes go, armed with sharp arrows, to fight those wicked Rakshasas.
भवानपि महाशस्त्रपरिवारो रथे स्थितः । करोतु युद्धे विजयं राक्षसं हंतुमुद्यतः
You too, surrounded by great warriors and weapons, standing on your chariot, should achieve victory in battle, intent on slaying the Rakshasa.
एतन्मम मतं राजन्ये योधास्तत्प्रमर्दनाः । ते गच्छंतु रणे शूराः किमन्यैर्बहुभिर्भटैः
This is my opinion, O king: let these warriors, destroyers of the foe, go forth to battle; what need is there for many other fighters?
इत्युक्तवति वीराग्र्येऽमात्ये सुमतिसंज्ञिके । शत्रुघ्नः कथयामास वीरान्संग्रामकोविदान्
When the foremost minister, named Sumati, had spoken thus, Shatrughna addressed the heroes, skilled in the art of war.
भो वीराः पुष्कलाद्या ये सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदाः । ते वदंतु प्रतिज्ञां वै मत्पुरो राक्षसार्दने
O heroes, Pushkala and the rest, all skilled in every weapon and missile, let them declare their vows before me to destroy the Rakshasa.