तस्मै स कथयामास हयं नीतं रघोः पतेः । वाजिमेधाय निर्मुक्तं स्वच्छंदगतिमद्भुतम्
To him was reported that the horse, released for the Ashvamedha by the lord of Raghu, had been brought—an extraordinary horse, moving freely as it wished.
रक्षितं शत्रुसूदेन महाबलसमेतिना । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य नृपो वीरमणिर्महान्
Guarded by the mighty slayer of foes and a great army, upon hearing this report, the great King Viramani—
नातिप्रशंसयामास तत्कर्म सुमहामतिः । नीत्वा पुनः समायांतं चौरस्येव विचेष्टितम्
—did not excessively praise that deed, wise as he was; he considered the act, like that of a thief, to be questionable.
कथयामास जामात्रे शिवायाद्भुतकर्मणे । अर्धांगनाधरायांगभूषाय चंद्रधारिणे
He recounted it to his son-in-law, Shiva, the wondrous doer, the moon-crested, the half-female, the ornament of limbs.
तेन संमंत्रयामास नृपो वीरमणिर्महान् । पुत्रसृष्टं महत्कर्म विनिंद्यं महतां मतः
With him, the great king Viramani deliberated, deeming the great act done by his son as blameworthy in the eyes of the noble.
शिव उवाच। राजन्पुत्रेण भवतः कृतं कर्म महाद्भुतम् । यो जहार महावाहंरामचंद्रस्य धीमतः
Shiva said: O King, your son has accomplished a marvelous deed—he has seized the great horse of the wise Rama.
अद्य युद्धं महद्भाति सुरासुरविमोहनम् । शत्रुघ्नेन महाराज्ञा वीरकोट्येकरक्षिणा
Today a great battle will take place, bewildering gods and demons, with the mighty king Shatrughna, protector of a crore heroes.
मया यो ध्रियते स्वांते जिह्वया प्रोच्यते हि यः । तस्य रामस्ययज्ञांगं जहार तव पुत्रकः
He whom I hold in my heart, whose name is spoken by my tongue—your son has taken the sacrificial horse of that Rama.
परमत्र महाँल्लाभो भविष्यतितरां रणे । यद्रामचरणांभोजं द्रक्ष्यामः स्वीयसेवितम्
But here, supreme gain will come in battle, for we shall behold the lotus feet of Rama, worshipped by his own.
अत्र यत्नो महान्कार्यो हयस्य परिरक्षणे । नयिष्यंति बलाद्वाहं मया रक्षितमप्यमुम्
Here, great effort must be made to protect the horse; for even if I guard it, they will try to seize it by force.
तस्मादिमं महाराज राज्येन सह सन्नतः । वाजिनं भोजनं दत्वा प्रेक्षस्वांघ्रियुगं ततः
Therefore, O great king, with humility, offer this horse along with your kingdom as food, and then behold his pair of feet.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शिवस्य स नृपोत्तमः । उवाच तं सुरेंद्रादिवंद्यपादांबुजद्वयम्
Hearing these words of Shiva, that foremost of kings replied to him, whose twin lotus feet are worshipped by Indra and the gods.
वीरमणिरुवाच। क्षत्रियाणामयं धर्मो यत्प्रतापस्य रक्षणम् । तदसौ क्रांतुमुद्युक्तः क्रतुना हयसंज्ञिना
Vīramaṇi said: This is the duty of kṣatriyas—to protect their own valor. Therefore, he set out to seize the horse meant for the sacrifice.
तस्माद्रक्ष्यः स्वप्रतापो येनकेनापि मानिना । यावच्छक्यं कर्म कृत्वा शरीरव्ययकारिणा
Therefore, one’s own valor must be protected by any means, as long as possible, by performing actions even at the cost of the body.
सर्वं कृतं सुतेनेदं गृहीतोऽश्व पुनर्यतः । कोपितं रामभूपालं समयार्हं कुरु प्रभो
All has been done by my son; the horse has been seized again. Since King Rāma has been angered, O lord, act as is proper for the situation.
क्षत्त्रियाणामिदं कर्म कर्तव्यार्हं भवेन्नहि । यदकस्माद्रिपोः पादौ प्रणमेद्भयविह्वलः
This is not a fitting act for kṣatriyas—that out of sudden fear, one should bow at the enemy’s feet, overwhelmed by terror.
रिपवो विहसंत्येनं कातरोऽयं नृपाधमः । क्षुद्रः प्राकृतवन्नीचो नतवान्भयविह्वलः
The enemies mock him, saying, 'This is a coward, the lowest of kings, base and common, bowing down like an ordinary man, overcome by fear.'
तस्माद्भवान्यथायोग्यं योद्धव्ये समुपस्थिते । यद्विधेयं विचार्यैव कर्तव्यं भक्तरक्षणम्
Therefore, when battle is at hand, you must act as is appropriate. After due consideration, you must protect your devotee.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य चंद्रचूडोवदद्वचः । प्रहसन्मेघगंभीरवाण्या संमोहयन्मनः
Śeṣa said: Hearing these words, Candracūḍa replied, smiling with a voice deep as thunder, bewildering the mind.
यदि देवास्त्रयस्त्रिंशत्कोटयः समुपस्थिताः । तथापि त्वत्तः केनाश्वो गृह्यते मम रक्षितुः
Even if the thirty-three crore gods were to assemble, still, who could seize the horse from you, my protector?
यदि रामः समागत्य स्वात्मानं दर्शयिष्यति । तदाहं चरणौ तस्य प्रणमामि सुकोमलौ
If Rāma himself comes and reveals his true self, then I will bow at his beautiful feet.
स्वामिना न हि योद्धव्यं महान नय उच्यते । अन्ये वीरास्तृणप्रायाः किंचित्कर्तुं न वै क्षमाः
One should not fight with one’s master; this is the highest principle. Other heroes are as insignificant as grass and are not capable of doing anything.
तस्माद्युद्ध्यस्व राजेंद्र रक्षके मयि सुस्थिते । को गृह्णाति बलाद्वाहं त्रिलोकी यदि संगता
Therefore, O king, fight, while I, your protector, stand firm. Even if the three worlds were to unite, who could seize the horse by force?
शेष उवाच। एतद्वचः परं श्रुत्वा चंद्रचूडस्य भूमिपः । जहर्ष मानसेऽत्यंतं युद्धकर्मणि कौतुकी
Śeṣa said: Hearing these excellent words of Candracūḍa, the king rejoiced greatly in his heart, eager for the battle.
शेष उवाच। सेनाचरा महाराज्ञो महाबलसमन्विताः । समागतास्तं पश्यंतो हयं रामस्य भूपतेः
Śeṣa said: The scouts of the great king, endowed with great strength, assembled and watched the horse of King Rāma.
क्वा सावश्वः केन नीतः कथं वा दृश्यते न सः । को गंता यमपुर्यां वै वाहं हृत्वा सुमंदधीः
Where is that horse? By whom has it been taken? Why is it not seen? Who, having stolen the horse, will go to the city of Yama with a clear mind?
विलोकयंतस्तन्मार्गं यावत्सेनाचरा रघोः । तावत्प्राप्तो महाराजो महासैन्यपरीवृतः
As the scouts of Raghu’s army searched along that path, at that moment the great king arrived, surrounded by a mighty army.
पप्रच्छ सेवकान्सर्वान्कुत्राश्वो मम सांप्रतम् । न दृश्यते कथं वाहः स्वर्णपत्रसुशोभितः
He asked all his attendants, 'Where is my horse now? Why is the horse, adorned with golden trappings, not seen?'
इति तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सेवकास्ते हयानुगाः । प्रोचुर्नाथ मनोवेगो वाहः केनापि कानने
Hearing these words, the attendants who followed the horse said, 'O lord, the swift horse was taken by someone in the forest.'
हृतो न लक्ष्यते तस्मादस्माभिर्मार्गकोविदैः । तदत्र यत्नः कर्तव्यो हयप्राप्तिं प्रति प्रभो
'It has been stolen and cannot be found by us, though we are skilled in tracking. Therefore, O lord, effort must be made here to recover the horse.'