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.
पुष्कल उवाच। विकत्थनं न कुर्वंति संग्रामे सुभटा नराः । पराक्रमं दर्शयंति निजशस्त्रास्त्रवर्षणैः
Pushkala said: True warriors do not boast in battle; they display their prowess by the shower of their own weapons and missiles.
रावणो निहतो येन ससुहृत्स्वजनैर्वृतः । तस्य वाजिनमाहृत्य कुत्र गंतासि दुर्मद
By whom Ravana was slain, surrounded by his friends and kin—having brought his horse, where will you go, O arrogant one?
पतिष्यसि त्वं शत्रुघ्नबाणैः कोदंडनिर्गतैः । त्वामत्स्यंति शिवा भूमौ पतितं प्राणवर्जितम्
You will fall by the arrows of Shatrughna, released from his bow; the virtuous will see you lying on the ground, devoid of life.
मा गर्ज दुष्ट रामस्य सेवके मयि संस्थिते । गर्जंति सुभटा युद्धे शत्रुं जित्वा महोदयात्
Do not roar, wicked one, while I, a servant of Rama, stand here; warriors roar in battle only after conquering the enemy, with great glory.
शेष उवाच। एवं ब्रुवंतं तं वीरं पुष्कलं रणदुर्मदम् । जघान शक्त्या सुभृशं हृदि राक्षससत्तमः
Shesha said: As Pushkala, the fierce warrior, spoke thus, the foremost rakshasa struck him forcefully in the heart with a spear.
आयांतीं तां महाशक्तिमायसीं कांचनाश्रिताम् । चिच्छेद त्रिभिरत्युग्रैः शितैर्बाणैः स पुष्कलः
As that mighty, magical, gold-adorned spear approached, Pushkala cut it with three exceedingly sharp arrows.
सा त्रिधा ह्यपतद्भूमौ विशिखैर्निष्प्रभीकृता । पतंती विरराजासौ विष्णोः शक्तित्रयीव किम्
Split by the arrows, it fell to the ground in three parts, its brilliance lost; as it fell, it shone like Vishnu's triple power.
तां छिन्नां शक्तिकां दृष्ट्वा राक्षसः परतापनः । जग्राह शूलं तरसा त्रिशिखं लोहनिर्मितम्
Seeing his broken spear, the rakshasa, tormentor of foes, swiftly seized a trident made of iron.
तीक्ष्णाग्रं ज्वलनप्रख्यं राक्षसेंद्रो व्यमोचयत् । आयांतं तिलशश्चक्रे बाणैः पुष्कलसंज्ञितः
The rakshasa king released the trident, its sharp tip blazing like fire; Pushkala shattered it to pieces with arrows as it approached.
छित्त्वा त्रिशूलं तरसा राघवस्य हि सेवकः । पुष्कलश्चाप आधत्त बाणांस्तीक्ष्णान्मनोजवान्
Having cut the trident with force, Pushkala, servant of Raghava, took up his bow and set swift, sharp arrows.