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?'
नमश्चक्रुर्महात्मानः सर्वे देववरांगनाः । किरीटमणिविद्योतद्योतितांघ्रियुगास्ततः
All the noble divine women bowed in reverence, their pair of feet shining with the radiance of jeweled crowns.
सा तान्पप्रच्छ पुरुषान्सर्वश्रेष्ठा तु भामिनी । के यूयमत्र संप्राप्ताः कथं चापधरा नराः
That illustrious lady questioned those men, the foremost among all: 'Who are you who have arrived here, and how are you men bearing bows?'
मत्स्थलं सर्वदेवानामगम्यं मोहनं महत् । अत्र प्राप्तस्य तु क्वापि निवृत्तिर्न भवत्युत
This place of mine is inaccessible and enchanting to all the gods; once someone arrives here, there is truly no departure.
अश्वोऽयं कस्य राज्ञो वै कथं चामरवीजितः । स्वर्णपत्रेण शोभाढ्यः कथयंतु ममाग्रतः
Whose king does this horse belong to, and how has it been fanned with a yak-tail whisk? Adorned with a golden plate, let it be explained to me here.
शेष उवाच। इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा मोहनाचारसंयुतम् । हनूमांस्तां प्रत्युवाच गतभीः प्रहसन्निव
Śeṣa said: Hearing her words, filled with enchanting conduct, Hanuman replied to her, his fear gone, as if smiling.
वयं वै किंकरा राज्ञस्त्रैलोक्यस्य शिखामणेः । त्रिलोकीयं प्रणमते सर्वदेवशिरोमणिम्
We are servants of the king, the crest-jewel of the three worlds; all the gods bow to him, the crown-jewel among them.
रामभद्रस्य जानीहि हयमेधप्रवर्तितुः । प्रमुंच वाहमस्माकं कथं बद्धो वराङ्गने
Know that this is Rāmabhadra's horse, set forth for the horse-sacrifice; release our steed, O noble lady, why is it bound?
वयं सर्वास्त्रकुशलाः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदाः । नयिष्यामो बलाद्वाहं हत्वा तत्प्रतिरोधकान्
We are skilled in all weapons and adept in every missile; we shall take the steed by force, slaying those who resist.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य प्लवङ्गस्य वराङ्गना । विवरस्था प्रत्युवाच हसंती वाक्यकोविदा
Hearing the words of the monkey, the noble lady, standing in the opening, replied, smiling and skilled in speech.
मयानीतमिमं वाहं न कोमोचयितुं क्षमः । वर्षायुतेन निशितैर्बाणकोटिभिरुच्छिखैः
I have brought this steed, but am not able to release it; for ten thousand years, with sharp arrow-tips raised high.
परं रामस्य पादाब्जसैवकी कर्मकारिणी । न ग्रहीष्यामि तद्वाहं राजराजस्य धीमतः
I am solely a servant performing the work for Rāma's lotus feet; I will not seize that steed belonging to the wise king of kings.
महान विनयो जातो मम नेत्र्याः सुवाजिनः । क्षमताद्रामचंद्रस्तच्छरण्यो भक्तवत्सलः
A great humility has arisen in me, O noble horse; let Rāma the moon-like, the refuge of devotees, be forgiving.
यूयं क्लिष्टास्तत्पुरुषा हयार्थं तस्य रक्षितुः । याचध्वं वरमप्राप्यं देवानामपि सत्तमाः
You men are troubled for the sake of the horse, to protect it; ask for a boon unattainable even by the best of gods.
यथा मेमीवमत्युग्रं क्षमेत पुरुषोत्तमः । व्रीडां त्यक्त्वाखिलां यूयं वृणुध्वं वरमुत्तमम्
So that the supreme man may forgive my very fierce act, you all, abandoning all shame, request the highest boon.
तस्या वचः परं श्रुत्वा हनूमान्नि जगाद ताम् । रघुनाथप्रसादेन सर्वमस्माकमूर्जितम्
Hearing her supreme words, Hanuman spoke to her: 'By the grace of Raghunātha, all our strength is accomplished.'
तथापि याचे वरमेकमुत्तमं । विधेहि तन्मे मनसः समीहितम् । भवे भवे नो रघुनायकः पति -। र्वयं च तत्कर्मकराश्च किंकराः
Still, I request one supreme boon: grant me what my mind desires—that in every birth, may Raghunāyaka be our lord, and we his servants and workers.
एतद्वचनमाकर्ण्य प्लवगस्य तदांगना । उवाच वाक्यं मधुरं प्रहस्य गुणपूजितम्
Hearing these words of the monkey, that lady replied, smiling, with sweet speech, honoring his virtues.
भवद्भिः प्रार्थितं यद्वै दुर्ल्लभं सर्वदैवतैः । तद्भविष्यत्यसंदेहः सेवकास्तद्रघोः पतेः
What you have requested, which is rare even for all the gods, will certainly come to pass; servants of Rāma's lord indeed.
अथापि वरमेकं वै दास्यामि कृतहेलना । रघुनाथस्य तुष्ट्यर्थं तदृतं मे भवेद्वचः
Now, even though I have been treated with disrespect, I will grant one boon; for the satisfaction of Raghunātha, let my word be true.
अग्रे वीरमणिर्भूपो महावीरसमन्वितः । ग्रहीष्यति भवद्वाहं शिवेन परिरक्षितः
In the future, King Vīramaṇi, accompanied by great heroes and protected by Śiva, will seize your horse.