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.
तज्जयार्थे महास्त्रं मे गृह्णीत सुमहाबलाः । द्वैरथे स तु योद्धव्यः शत्रुघ्नेन त्वया महान्
For the sake of victory over him, let the mighty ones take my great weapon; in single combat, you, O Śatrughna, must fight that powerful foe.
इदमस्त्रं यदा त्वं तु क्षेपयिष्यसि संगरे । अनेन पूतो रामस्य स्वरूपं ज्ञास्यते पुनः
When you release this weapon in battle, by its power the true form of Rāma will again be known.
ज्ञात्वा तं वाजिनं दत्वा चरणे प्रपतिष्यति । तस्माद्गृह्णीध्वमस्त्रं तन्मम वैरिविदारणम्
Recognizing him, and after giving the horse, he will fall at your feet; therefore, take up this weapon of mine, which tears asunder enemies.
तच्छ्रुत्वा रघुनाथस्य भ्राता जग्राह चास्त्रकम् । उदङ्मुखः पवित्रांगो योगिन्या दत्तमद्भुतम्
Hearing this, the brother of Raghunātha, facing north, pure in body, received the wondrous weapon given by the yoginī.
तत्प्राप्यास्त्रं महातेजा बभूव रिपुकर्शनः । दुष्प्रधर्ष्यो दुराराध्यो वैरिवारणसत्सृणिः
Having obtained that weapon, the radiant destroyer of foes became invincible, difficult to appease, and a mighty slayer of enemies.
तां नत्वा राघवश्रेष्ठः शत्रुघ्नो हयसत्तमम् । गृहीत्वागाज्जलात्तस्माद्रेवातीरे सुखोचिते
Having bowed to her, the best of the Raghus, Śatrughna, took the excellent horse from the water and brought it to a pleasant spot on the riverbank.
तं दृष्ट्वा सैनिकाः सर्वे प्रहृष्टांगा मुदान्विताः । साधुसाधु प्रशंसंतः पप्रच्छुर्हयनिर्गमम्
Seeing him, all the soldiers, their bodies thrilled with joy, praised him, saying 'Well done, well done!' and asked about the horse's emergence.
हनूमान्कथयामास हयस्यागमनं महत् । वरप्राप्तिं च ताभ्यो वै तेऽपि श्रुत्वा मुदं गताः
Hanumān narrated to them the great arrival of the horse and the obtaining of the boon; hearing this, they too became joyful.
शेष उवाच। निनदत्सुमृदंगेषु वीणानादेषु सर्वतः । मुक्तो वाहस्ततो देव पुरं देवविनिर्मितम्
Śeṣa said: Amid the sound of resounding drums and the music of vīṇās on all sides, the horse was released and entered the city created by the gods.
यत्र स्फाटिक कुड्यानां रचनाभिर्गृहा नृणाम् । हसंति विंध्यं विमलं पर्वतं नागसेवितम्
There, the houses of men are constructed with crystal walls, shining and pure, facing the Vindhya mountain, served by nāgas.