तेनास्त्रेण विमानात्खात्पतन्तो मुक्तमूर्धजाः । दृश्यंते भूतवेतालसंघा इव नभश्चराः
By that weapon, rakshasas fell from the aerial chariot, their hair disheveled, appearing like hosts of spirits and goblins moving through the sky.
तदस्त्रं रघुनाथस्य भ्रात्रा मुक्तं विलोक्य सः । अस्त्रं च पाशुपत्यं स चापे धाद्दनुजात्मजः
Seeing that weapon released by Shatrughna, the son of Raghu, his adversary then placed the Pashupata weapon upon his bow.
ततः प्रवृत्ता वेताला भूताः प्रेतनिशाचराः । कपालकर्तरीयुक्ताः पिबन्तः शोणितं बहु
Then, spirits, ghosts, and night-wandering demons appeared, adorned with skulls and cleavers, drinking copious blood.
ते वै शत्रुघ्नवीराणां रुधिराणि पपुर्मुदा । जीवतामपि दुर्वाराः कर्तरीपाणिशोभिताः
Those beings joyfully drank the blood of Shatrughna's heroes, irresistible even among the living, their hands shining with cleavers.
तदस्त्रं व्याप्नुवद्दृष्ट्वा सर्ववीरप्रभंजनम् । मुमोच तन्निरासाय चास्त्रं नारायणाभिधम्
Seeing that weapon enveloping all and destroying the valor of every hero, he released the weapon known as Narayana to dispel it.
नारायणास्त्रं तान्सर्वान्वारयामास तत्क्षणात् । ते सर्वे विलयं प्रापुर्निशाचरप्रणोदिताः
The Narayana weapon immediately repelled all those beings, and all the night-wandering demons vanished at once.
तदा क्रुद्धो निशाचारी विद्युन्माली समाददे । त्रिशूलं निशितं घोरं शत्रुघ्नं हंतुमुल्बणम्
Then, the enraged night-wanderer Vidyunmali seized a sharp, terrible trident, intent on killing Shatrughna.
शूलहस्तं समायांतं विद्युन्मालिनमाहवे । सायकैः प्राहरत्तस्य भुजे त्वर्धशशिप्रभैः
As Vidyunmali, holding the trident, approached in battle, Shatrughna struck his arm with arrows shining like half-moons.
तैर्बाणैश्छिन्नहस्तः स शिरसा हंतुमुद्यतः । हतोसि याहि शत्रुघ्न कस्त्वां त्राता भविष्यति
His arm severed by those arrows, he prepared to strike with his head, saying, 'You are slain, go now, Shatrughna! Who will save you?
इति ब्रुवाणं तरसा चिच्छेद शितसायकैः । मस्तकं तस्य बलिनः शूरस्य सह कुंडलम्
As he spoke thus, Shatrughna swiftly cut off the head of that mighty, heroic one, along with his earrings, with sharp arrows.
तं छिन्नशिरसं दृष्ट्वा उग्रदंष्ट्रः प्रतापवान् । मुष्टिना हंतुमारेभे शत्रुघ्नं शूरसेवितम्
Seeing him with his head severed, the fierce-fanged, mighty one prepared to strike Shatrughna, honored by heroes, with his fist.
शत्रुघ्नस्तु क्षुरप्रेण सायकेनाच्छिनच्छिरः । प्रधावतो रणे वीरान्सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदान्
But Shatrughna, with a razor-edged arrow, cut off the head of the one running in battle, skilled in all weapons and missiles.
हतशेषा ययुः सर्वे राक्षसा नाथवर्जिताः । शत्रुघ्नं प्रणिपत्याथ ददुर्वाजिनमाहृतम्
All the surviving rakshasas, deprived of their leader, approached Shatrughna, bowed to him, and brought forth the horse.
ततो वीणानिनादाश्च शंखनादाः समंततः । श्रूयंते शूरवीराणां जयनादा मनोहराः
Then, everywhere, the sounds of veenas and conch shells were heard, and the victorious cries of heroic warriors, enchanting to the mind.
शेष उवाच। प्राप्य तं वाजिनं राजा शत्रुघ्नो राक्षसैर्हृतम् । अत्यंतं हर्षमापेदे पुष्कलेन समन्वितः
Shesha said: Having recovered the horse taken by the rakshasas, King Shatrughna, accompanied by Pushkala, became exceedingly joyful.
रुधिरैः सिक्तगात्रास्ते योधा लक्ष्मीनिधिस्तथा । रणोत्साहेन संयुक्तं प्रशशंसुर्महानृपम्
Those warriors, their bodies stained with blood, and the treasury of fortune, praised the great king, who was filled with enthusiasm for battle.
हते तस्मिन्महादैत्ये विद्युन्मालिनि दुर्जये । सुराः सर्वे भयं त्यक्त्वा सुखमापुर्मुनेमहत्
When that great demon Vidyunmali, difficult to conquer, was slain, all the gods abandoned fear and attained great happiness.
नद्यस्तु विमला जाता रविस्तु विमलोऽभवत् । वाता ववुः सुगंधोद सिक्ता विमलशुष्मिणः
The rivers became pure, the sun shone clear, fragrant winds blew, and the moist, spotless breezes flowed.
सन्नद्धास्ते महावीरा रथस्था विमलांगकाः । राजानमूचुस्ते सर्वे जयलक्ष्म्या समन्विताः
Those great heroes, armored and standing in chariots with shining limbs, all addressed the king, adorned with the fortune of victory.
वीरा ऊचुः। दिष्ट्या हतस्त्वया दैत्यो विद्युन्माली महामते । यद्भयात्त्रासमापन्नाः सुराः स्वर्गान्निराकृताः
The heroes said: By fortune, you have slain the demon Vidyunmali, O wise one, whose terror had driven the gods from heaven.
दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो महावाजी रघुनाथस्य शोभनः । दिष्ट्या गंतासि सर्वत्र जयं तु क्षितिमंडले
By fortune, you have recovered the splendid horse of Raghunatha; by fortune, you will go everywhere, victorious across the earth.
स्वामिन्मुंचत्विमं वाहं मनोवेगं मनोरमम् । समयस्य विलंबो मा भवत्वत्र महामते
Master, release this swift and delightful steed; let there be no delay in the ritual, O wise one.
शेष उवाच। इति श्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यं वीराणां समयोचितम् । साधु साधु प्रशस्यैतान्मुमोच हयसत्तमम्
Shesha said: Hearing those words of the heroes, appropriate to the occasion, he praised them, saying 'Well done, well done,' and released the excellent horse.
स मुक्तश्चोत्तरामाशां बभ्रामाथ सुरक्षितः । रथपत्तिहयश्रेष्ठैः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदैः
Released, he then wandered northward, protected by the best of chariots, infantry, and horses, all skilled in weapons and missiles.
तत्र यद्वृत्तमेतस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य मनोहरम् । वात्स्यायन शृणुष्वैतत्पापराशिप्रदाहकम्
There, what transpired concerning Shatrughna, enchanting to hear, listen to this, O Vatsyayana, which burns away heaps of sin.
रेवातीरमथ प्राप्तो मुनिवृंदनिषेवितम् । नीलरत्नसमूहस्य रसः किं तु पयो मिषात्
He reached the bank of the Reva, frequented by groups of sages; the essence of the cluster of blue gems was like milk mixed with nectar.
तांस्तान्मुनिवरान्सर्वान्प्रणमञ्छूरसेवितः । जगाम हयरत्नस्य पृष्ठतः कामगामिनः
Honoring all those eminent sages, revered by heroes, he followed behind the jewel-like horse, which moved at will.
गच्छंस्तत्राश्रमं जीर्णं पलाशपर्णनिर्मितम् । रेवायाजलकल्लोलैः सिक्तं पापहराश्रयम्
As he went, he saw an old hermitage made of palasha leaves, soaked by the waves of the Reva's waters, a refuge that removes sin.
तं दृष्ट्वा सुमतिं प्राह सर्वज्ञं नयकोविदम् । शत्रुघ्नः सर्वधर्मार्थकर्मकर्तव्यकोविदः
Seeing him, Sumati addressed the all-knowing, expert in policy, Shatrughna, who was skilled in all duties of righteousness, wealth, and action.
राजोवाच। मंत्रिन्कथय कस्यायमाश्रमः पुण्यदर्शनः । विचारचतुरश्रेष्ठ वदैतन्मम पृच्छतः
The king spoke: Minister, tell me whose hermitage this is, so auspicious in appearance. O most discerning among investigators, speak this to me as I ask.