लक्ष्मीनिधिरुवाच। वेदानां निंदनं श्रुत्वा आस्ते यो मौनिवन्नरः । मानसे रोचयेद्यस्तु सर्वधर्मबहिष्कृतः
Lakṣmīnidhi said: Whoever, hearing slander of the Vedas, sits silent like a mute, or delights in his mind in what is outside all dharma—
ब्राह्मणो यो दुराचारो रसलाक्षादिविक्रयी । विक्रीणाति च गां मूढो धनलोभेन मोहितः
—or a Brāhmaṇa of evil conduct, who sells lac or other forbidden things, or foolishly sells a cow out of greed for wealth—
म्लेच्छकूपोदकं पीत्वा प्रायश्चित्तं तु नाचरेत् । तत्पापं मम वै भूयाद्विमुखश्चेद्भवाम्यहम्
—or drinks water from a well of outcastes and does not perform penance—may that sin fall upon me, if ever I turn away.
तत्प्रतिज्ञामथाश्रुत्य हनूमान्रणकोविदः । रामांघ्रिस्मरणं कृत्वा प्रोवाच वचनं शुभम्
Hearing that vow, Hanumān, skilled in battle, after remembering the feet of Rāma, spoke these auspicious words:
मत्स्वामीहृदये नित्यं ध्येयो वै योगिभिर्मुहुः । यं देवाः सासुराः सर्वे नमंति मणिमौलिभिः
My Lord, who is ever to be meditated upon in the heart by yogis, whom all the gods and asuras bow to, their crowns studded with jewels—
रामः श्रीमानयोध्यायाः पतिर्लोकेशपूजितः । तं स्मृत्वा यद्ब्रुवे वाक्यं तद्वै सत्यं भवष्यिति
Rāma, glorious Lord of Ayodhyā, worshipped by the world—remembering him, whatever I say shall indeed be true.
राजन्कोयं लघुर्दैत्यो दुर्बलः कामगे स्थितः । कथयाशु मया कार्यमेकेन विनिपातनम्
O King, what is this demon, weak and intent on desire? Tell me quickly, for I shall destroy him alone at once.
मेरुं देवेंद्रसहितं लांगूलाग्रेण तोलये । जलधिं शोषये सर्वं सांवर्तं वा पिबाम्यहम्
With the tip of my tail I can lift Mount Meru along with Indra; I can dry up the entire ocean, or even drink up the cosmic flood.
राज्ञः श्रीरघुनाथस्य जानक्याः कृपया मम । तन्नास्ति भूतले राजन्यदसाध्यं कदा भवेत्
By the grace of King Rāghunātha and Jānakī, there is nothing on earth, O King, that could ever be impossible for me.
एतद्वाक्यं मया प्रोक्तमनृतं स्याद्यदि प्रभो । तदैव रघुनाथस्य भक्तिदूरो भवाम्यहम्
If this statement of mine proves false, O Lord, then at that very moment may I become distant from devotion to Rāghunātha.
यः शूद्रः कपिलां गां वै पयोबुद्ध्यानुपालयेत् । तस्य पापं ममैवास्तु चेत्कुर्यामनृतं वचः
If a Śūdra tends a tawny cow, thinking of her as a source of milk, let the sin of that act fall upon me, should I ever speak falsely.
ब्राह्मणीं गच्छते मोहाच्छूद्रः कामविमोहितः । तस्य पापं ममैवास्तु चेत्कुर्यामनृतं वचः
If a Śūdra, deluded by desire, approaches a Brāhmaṇa woman out of passion, let the sin of that act fall upon me, should I ever speak falsely.
यद्घ्राणान्नरकं गच्छेत्स्पर्शनाच्चापि रौरवम् । तां पिबेन्मदिरां यो वा जिह्वास्वादेन लोलुपः
Whoever, greedy for the taste, drinks liquor that by its smell leads to hell and by its touch to Raurava,
तस्य यज्जायते पापं तन्ममैवास्तु निश्चितम् । चेन्न कुर्यां प्रतिज्ञातं सत्यं रामकृपाबलात्
Let the sin that arises from that fall upon me, certainly, if I do not fulfill what I have vowed, by the power of Rāma's grace.
एवमुक्ते महावीरैर्योद्धारस्तरसा युताः । चक्रुः प्रतिज्ञां महतीं स्वपराक्रमशालिनीम्
When this was spoken, the great heroes, filled with eagerness, made a mighty vow, displaying their own valor.
शत्रुघ्नोऽपि व्यधात्तत्र प्रतिज्ञां पश्यतां नृणाम् । साधुसाधु प्रशंसन्वै तान्वीरान्युद्धकोविदान्
There too, Śatrughna made his vow before the assembled men, and the brave, skilled warriors praised him, saying 'Well done! Well done!'
कथयामि पुरो वः स्वां प्रतिज्ञां सत्त्वशोभिताम् । तच्छृण्वंतु महाभागा युद्धोत्साहसमन्विताः
I declare before you all my own vow, adorned with courage; let the noble ones, filled with zeal for battle, listen to it.
चेत्तस्य शिर आहत्य पातयामि न सायकैः । विमानाच्च कबंधाच्च भिन्नं छिन्नं च भूतले
If I do not strike off his head and cast it down with my arrows, severed and shattered to the ground from his chariot and body,
यत्पापं कूटसाक्ष्येण यत्पापं स्वर्णचौर्यतः । यत्पापं ब्रह्मनिंदायां तन्ममास्त्वद्य निश्चयात्
Let the sin of bearing false witness, the sin of stealing gold, and the sin of reviling a Brāhmaṇa fall upon me today, with certainty.
इति शत्रुघ्नसद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा ते वीरपूजिताः । धन्योसि राघवभ्रातः कस्त्वदन्यो परो भवेत्
Hearing these true words of Śatrughna, those honored heroes said: 'Blessed are you, brother of Rāghava; who else could surpass you?'
त्वया वै निहतो दैत्यो देवदानवदुःखदः । लवणो नाम लोकेश मधुपुत्रो महाबलः
By you was slain the demon Lavaṇa, son of Madhu, mighty and a bringer of suffering to gods and Dānavas alike, O lord of the world.
कोयं वै राक्षसो दुष्टः क्व चास्य बलमल्पकम् । करिष्यसि क्षणादेव तस्य नाशं महामते
Who is this wicked Rākṣasa, and where is his meager strength? In but a moment, O wise one, you will bring about his destruction.
इत्युक्त्वा ते महावीराः सज्जीभूता रणांगणे । प्रतिज्ञां स्वामृतां कर्तुं ययुस्ते राक्षसं मुदा
Thus speaking, those great heroes, ready on the battlefield, joyfully set out to fulfill their vow and confront the Rākṣasa.
शेष उवाच। रथैः सदश्वैः शोभाढ्यैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितैः । नानारत्नसमायुक्तैर्ययुस्ते राक्षसाधमम्
Śeṣa said: With chariots adorned with excellent horses, filled with all weapons and missiles, and set with various gems, they advanced toward the wicked Rākṣasa.
तान्दृष्ट्वा कामगे याने स्थितः प्रोवाच राक्षसः । मेघगंभीरया वाचा तर्जयन्निव भूरिशः
Seeing them, the Rākṣasa, standing in his desired vehicle, spoke with a voice deep as a cloud, threatening them repeatedly.
मायां तु सुभटा योद्धुं गच्छंतु निजमंदिरम् । मा त्यजंतु स्वकान्प्राणान्न मोक्ष्ये वाजिनं वरम्
Let the valiant go to their own homes, for I will fight by means of illusion; let them not abandon their lives, nor will I release my excellent horse.
विद्युन्मालीति विख्यातो रावणस्य सुहृत्सखा । मत्सख्युः प्रेतभूतस्य निष्कृतिं कर्तुमेयिवान्
Known as Vidyunmālī, a close friend of Rāvaṇa, I have come to perform the funeral rites for my companion who has become a spirit.
क्वासौ रामो य आहत्य सखायं रावणं गतः । तस्य भ्रातापि कुत्रास्ते सर्वशूरशिरोमणिः
Where is that Rāma who, having struck down my friend, sent Rāvaṇa away? And where is his brother, the foremost of all heroes?
तं हत्वा निष्कृतिं तस्य प्राप्स्ये रामस्य चानुजम् । पिबन्रुधिरमुद्भूतं कंठनालस्य बुद्बुदैः
Having slain him, I shall gain recompense for him and for Rama's younger brother, drinking the blood that rises with bubbles from his throat.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य योधानां प्रवरोत्तमः । पुष्कलो निजगादैनं वीर्यशौर्यसमन्वितम्
Hearing these words, the foremost among warriors, Pushkala, addressed him, endowed with valor and heroism.