व्यास उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना । उवाच रामचारित्रं तत्तद्गुणकथोदयम्
Vyasa said: Hearing these words, with his inner self delighted, he spoke of Rama's deeds, recounting the stories of his various virtues.
शेष उवाच। साधु पृच्छसि विप्रर्षे रघुनाथगुणान्मुहुः । श्रुता न श्रुतवत्कृत्वा तेषु लोलुपतां दधत्
Shesha said: You inquire well, O sage among Brahmins, repeatedly about the virtues of Raghunatha; though you have heard them, you act as if you have not, displaying eagerness for them.
ततो निरगमद्वाहः सैनिकैर्बहुभिवृतः । रेवातीरे मनोज्ञे तु मुनिवृंदनिषेविते
Then the horse departed, surrounded by many soldiers, to the charming bank of the Reva, frequented by groups of sages.
सेनाचरास्ततः सर्वे यत्र वाहस्ततस्ततः । प्रसर्पंति निरीक्षंतस्तन्मार्गं रणकोविदाः
All the army scouts then moved wherever the horse went, observing its path, skilled in the ways of battle.
वाजी गतोऽथ रेवाया ह्रदेऽगाधजलान्विते । भाले स्वर्णभवं पत्रं धारयन्पूजितांगकः
The steed went to the deep waters of the Reva, bearing a golden plate on its forehead, adorned and honored.
ततो जले ममज्जासौ रामचंद्र हयो वरः । तदा सर्वे महाशूरास्तत्र विस्मयमागताः
Then, in the water, that excellent horse of Rama sank; at that moment, all the mighty warriors there were struck with wonder.
तैः परस्परमेवोचे कथं हयसमागमः । कोऽत्र गंता जले वाहमानेतुं तं महोदयम्
They spoke among themselves: 'How shall we recover the horse? Who will go into the water to bring back that great one?'
इति यावत्समुद्विग्ना मंत्रयंते परस्परम् । तावद्वीरशतैः सार्धमाजगाम रघोः पतिः
While they were anxiously deliberating among themselves, the lord of the Raghu dynasty arrived, accompanied by hundreds of heroes.
तान्सर्वान्विमनस्कान्स दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नसंज्ञितः । पप्रच्छ मेघगंभीरवाचा वीरशिरोमणिः
Seeing them all disheartened, Shatrughna, the jewel among warriors, addressed them with a voice deep as a cloud.
किं स्थितं निखिलैरद्य युष्माभिः संघशो जले । कुत्राश्वो रघुनाथस्य स्वर्णपत्रेण शोभितः
'Why are you all gathered here today, standing in the water? Where is the horse of Raghunatha, adorned with a golden plate?'
जले किं विनिमग्नोऽसौ हृतो वा केन मानिना । तन्मे कथयत क्षिप्रं कथं यूयं विमोहिताः
'Has it sunk in the water, or has it been taken by someone proud? Tell me quickly how you have become bewildered.'
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राज्ञो रघुवरस्य हि । कथयामासुस्ते सर्वं वीराः शूरशिरोमणिम्
Shesha said: Hearing these words of the king, the best of the Raghu line, all the warriors began to recount everything to the foremost among heroes.
जना ऊचुः। स्वामिन्वयं न जानीमो मुहूर्तमभवज्जले । निममज्ज ततो नायाद्धयस्तव मनोहरः
The people said: Lord, we do not know; we were only in the water for a moment, then we submerged, and your splendid horse did not return.
त्वमेव तत्र गत्वेमं वाहमानय वेगतः । अस्माभिस्तत्र गंतव्यं त्वया सार्द्धं महामते
You alone should go there swiftly and bring back the horse; we must go there together with you, O wise one.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां सैनिकानां रघूद्वहः । खेदं प्राप जनान्पश्यञ्जलसंतरणोद्यतान्
Hearing these words of the soldiers, the descendant of Raghu felt troubled, seeing the people preparing to cross the water.
उवाच मंत्रिमुख्यं स किं कर्तव्यमतः परम् । कथं वाहस्य संप्राप्तिर्भविष्यति वदस्व तत्
He spoke to the chief minister: What should be done now? Tell me how the horse can be retrieved.
के तत्र शूराः संयोज्या जलेऽन्वेषयितुं हयम् । को वा नयिष्यते वाहं केनोपायेन तद्वद
Who among us are the heroes fit to be sent to search for the horse in the water? Who will bring back the horse, and by what means? Tell me that.
इति राज्ञोवचः श्रुत्वा सुमतिर्मंत्रिसत्तमः । उवाच समये योग्यं शत्रुघ्नं हर्षयन्निव
Hearing the king's words, the excellent minister Sumati spoke at the right moment, as if gladdening Shatrughna.
स्वामिन्नस्ति तव श्रीमञ्छक्तिरद्भुतकर्मणः । पातालगमने शक्तिर्जलमध्यादिह स्फुटम्
Lord, you possess wondrous power for extraordinary deeds; you clearly have the ability to go even into the netherworld, and into the midst of water here.
अन्यच्च पुष्कलस्यापि शक्तिरस्ति महात्मनः । हनूमतोऽपि रामस्य पादसेवापरस्य च
Moreover, Pushkala, the great-souled one, also has power, as does Hanuman, ever devoted to serving Rama's feet.
तस्माद्यूयं त्रयो गत्वा हयमानयत ध्रुवम् । यतो भवेद्वाहमेधो रघुनाथस्य धीमतः
Therefore, you three should go and certainly bring back the horse, for the horse-sacrifice of wise Raghunatha must be completed.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाश्रुत्य शत्रुघ्नः परवीरहा । स्वयं विवेश तोयांतर्हनुमत्पुष्कलान्वितः
Shesha said: Hearing these words, Shatrughna, destroyer of enemies, himself entered the water, accompanied by Hanuman and Pushkala.
यावज्जलं विवेशासौ तावत्पुरमदृश्यत । अनेकोद्यानशोभाढ्यममेयं पुटभेदनम्
As soon as he entered the water, a city appeared before him, adorned with many splendid gardens and countless wondrous mansions.
तत्र माणिक्यरचिते स्तंभे स्वर्णमये हयम् । बद्धं ददर्श रामस्य स्वर्णपत्रसुशोभितम्
There, on a golden pillar inlaid with jewels, he saw Rama's horse bound, shining with golden plates.
स्त्रियस्तत्र मनोहारि रूपधारिण्य उत्तमाः । सेवंते सुंदरीमेकां पर्यंके सुखमास्थिताम्
There, beautiful women of enchanting form were serving a lovely lady who was comfortably seated on a couch.
तान्दृष्ट्वा ताः स्त्रियः सर्वाः प्रावोचन्स्वामिनीं प्रति । एतेऽल्पवर्ष्मवयसो मांसपुष्टकलेवराः
Seeing them, all those women spoke to their mistress: These men are young, of small stature, but with well-nourished bodies.
भविष्यंति तव श्रेष्ठमाहारस्य फलं महत् । एतेषां शोणितं स्वादु पुरुषाणां गतायुषाम्
They will be the best and most fruitful food for you; the blood of these men, whose lives are ended, is sweet.
एतद्वचः समाकर्ण्य सेवकीनां वरांगना । जहास किंचिद्वदनं नर्तयंती भ्रुवानघा
Hearing these words of her attendants, the excellent lady smiled a little, moving her eyebrows as she danced her face.
तावत्त्रयस्ते संप्राप्ताः सन्नाहश्री विशोभिताः । शिरस्त्राणानि दधतः शौर्यवीर्यसमन्विताः
At that moment, those three arrived, adorned with armor, wearing helmets, endowed with courage and valor.
ता दृष्ट्वा महिलास्तत्र सौंदर्यश्रीसमन्विताः । प्रोचुस्ते विस्मयं विप्र किमिदं दृश्यते महत्
Seeing them, the women there, endowed with beauty and grace, said in amazement, 'Brahmin, what is this great sight we behold?'