तेषां वचनमाकर्ण्य पप्रच्छ सुमतिं नृपः । शत्रुघ्नः शत्रुसंहारकारीमोहनरूपधृक्
Hearing their words, the king questioned Sumati; Shatrughna, the destroyer of enemies, took on a form that bewilders adversaries.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। कोऽत्र राजा निवसति कथं वाहस्य संगमः । कियद्बलं भूमिपतेर्येन मेऽद्य हृतो हयः
Shatrughna said: Who is the king residing here? How did the horse come to be here? What is the strength of the ruler by whom my horse has been taken today?
सुमतिरुवाच। राजन्देवपुरं ह्येतद्देवेनैव विनिर्मितम् । कैलासमिव दुर्गम्यं वैरिसंघैः सुसंहतैः
Sumati said: O king, this is Devapura, created by the god himself; it is as difficult to reach as Kailasa, well-defended by groups of enemies.
अस्मिन्वीरमणी राजा महाशूरः प्रतापवान् । राज्यं करोति धर्मेण शिवेन परिरक्षितः
Here, the king Vīramaṇī, a great hero endowed with prowess, rules the kingdom righteously, protected by Shiva.
योऽसौ प्रलयकारी स आस्ते भक्त्या वशीकृतः । चंद्रचूडः स्वभक्तस्य पक्षपातं सृजन्सदा
He who brings destruction dwells here, subdued by devotion; Chandracūḍa always shows partiality to his devotee.
तस्मादत्र महद्युद्धं गृहीतश्चेद्भविष्यति । यत्ताः संतः प्रकुर्वंतु रक्षणं कटकस्य हि
Therefore, if a great battle is undertaken here, it will occur; let the noble ones arrange the protection of the encampment.
एवं श्रुत्वा स शत्रुघ्नः सर्वभूपशिरोमणिः । सैन्यव्यूहं रचित्वासौ तिष्ठति स्म महायशाः
Having heard thus, Shatrughna, the foremost among all kings, arranged the army formation and stood firm, renowned for his greatness.
अथ तं सुखमासीनं मंत्रयंतं सुमंत्रिणा । आजगाम स देवर्षिर्युद्धकौतुकसंयुतः
Then, as he sat comfortably, consulting with his ministers, the divine sage arrived, filled with eagerness for battle.
तमागतं मुनिं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुघ्नस्तपसां निधिम् । अभ्युत्थायासने स्थाप्य मधुपर्कमथार्पयत्
Seeing the sage who had arrived, Shatrughna, the repository of asceticism, rose, seated him, and offered the honey-mixture.
स्वागतेन च संतुष्टं नारदं मुनिसत्तमम् । उवाच प्रीणयन्वाचा वाक्यवादविशारदः
With words of welcome, he pleased Narada, the foremost among sages, addressing him with speech skilled in eloquence.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। मदीयोऽश्व कुत्र विप्र कथयस्व महामते । न लक्ष्यते गतिस्तस्य सेवकैर्मम कोविदैः
Shatrughna said: O wise Brahmin, tell me where my horse is; its path is not discerned by my skilled attendants.
शंस तं येन वा नीतं क्षत्त्रियेण च मानिना । कथमत्र हयप्राप्तिर्भविष्यति तपोधन
Tell me who has taken it, whether by a proud kshatriya; how will the horse be recovered here, O ascetic?
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नस्य स नारदः । उवाच वीणां रणयन्गायन्रामकथां मुहुः
Hearing these words of Shatrughna, Narada, repeatedly sang the story of Rama, playing his lute.
नारद उवाच। एतद्देवपुरं राजन्भूपो वीरमणिर्महान् । तत्पुत्रेण वनस्थेन गृहीतस्तव वाजिराट्
Narada said: O king, this is Devapura; the great king Vīramaṇī, and by his son dwelling in the forest, your chief horse has been seized.
तत्र युद्धं महत्तेऽद्य भविष्यति सुदारुणम् । अत्र वीराः पतिष्यंति बलशौर्यसमन्विताः
There, today, a great and exceedingly fierce battle will take place; heroes endowed with strength and valor will fall here.
तस्मादत्र महायत्नात्स्थातव्यं ते महाबल । रचय व्यूहरचनां दुर्गमां परसैनिकैः
Therefore, with great effort, you must stand firm here, O mighty one; arrange a battle formation difficult for the enemy forces to penetrate.
जयस्ते भविता राजन्कृच्छ्रेणास्मान्नृपोत्तमात् । रामं को नु पराजीयाद्भुवने सकले ह्यपि
Victory will be yours, O king, though with difficulty, over this excellent ruler; who indeed could defeat Rama in the whole world?
इत्युक्त्वांतर्दधे विप्रो नभसि स्थितवांस्ततः । युद्धं सुदारुणं द्रक्ष्यन्देवदानवयोरिव
Having spoken thus, the sage vanished, remaining in the sky; a fierce battle will be seen, like that between gods and demons.
शेष उवाच। अथ राजा वीरमणिः सर्वशूरशिरोमणिः । पटहं घोषितुं स्वीये पुरमध्ये महारवम्
Śeṣa said: Then King Vīramaṇi, the foremost among all valiant heroes, ordered the drum to be sounded with great volume in the midst of his city.
आह्वयामास सेनान्यं रिपुवीरं महोन्नतम् । कथयामास च क्षिप्रं मेघगंभीरया गिरा
He summoned the commander, a mighty adversary of enemies, and swiftly spoke with a voice deep as thunder.
वीरमणिरुवाच। सेनानीः पटहस्याज्ञां देहि मे शोभने पुरे । तच्छ्रुत्वा मे सुसन्नद्धाः शत्रुघ्नं प्रति यांतु ते
Vīramaṇi said: Commander, issue the order for the drum in my splendid city; upon hearing it, let my well-armed men proceed against Śatrughna.
इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य राज्ञो वीरमणेस्तदा । कारयामास पटहं महारवनिनादितम्
Hearing these words of King Vīramaṇi, the commander then had the drum sounded with a great, resounding roar.
गेहे गेहे च रथ्यायां श्रूयते पटहध्वनिः । शत्रुघ्नं यांतु ये सर्वे वीरा राजपुरे स्थिताः
In every house and in the streets, the sound of the drum was heard; let all the heroes residing in the royal city go forth against Śatrughna.
ये वै राज्ञः समुल्लंघ्य शासनं वीरमानिनः । पुत्रा वा भ्रातरो वापि ते वध्याः स्युर्नृपाज्ञया
Those who, out of pride, disregard the king's command—whether sons or brothers—shall be put to death by royal decree.
शृण्वंतु वीराः पुनरप्याह ते पटहे रवम् । श्रुत्वा विधीयतामाशु कर्तव्यं मा विलंबितम्
Let the heroes listen again to the drum's sound; upon hearing it, let the task be done swiftly, without delay.
शेष उवाच। इति पटहरवं स्वकर्णगोचरं । नरवरवीरवरा ययुर्नृपोत्तमम् । कनककवचभूषितस्वदेहाः । समरमहोत्सव हृष्टचित्तकोशाः
Śeṣa said: Thus, as the drum's sound reached their ears, the foremost among men and heroes went to the eminent king, their bodies adorned with golden armor, their hearts exhilarated for the great festival of battle.
केचिद्ययुः शिरस्त्राणं धृत्वा शिरसि शोभनम् । कवचेन सुशोभाढ्याः शतकोटिसुशोभिताः
Some went wearing splendid helmets upon their heads, richly adorned with armor, shining among countless others.
रथेन हययुग्मेन मणिकांचनशोभिना । ययुस्ते राजसंदेशान्नृवरालयमुन्मदाः
With chariots yoked to horses, adorned with jewels and gold, they proceeded, intoxicated by the royal command, to the abode of the king.
केचिन्मतंगजैर्मत्तैः केचिद्वाहैः सुशोभनैः । ययुर्नपगृहं सर्वे राजसंदेशकारकाः
Some went on elephants in rut, others on splendid mounts; all went to the palace, carrying out the king's command.
विविक्तस्वर्णकवचशिरस्त्राणसुशोभितः । रुक्मांगदोऽपि च निजे रथे तिष्ठन्मनोजवे
Rukmāṅgada, resplendent in distinct golden armor and a shining helmet, stood upon his own swift chariot.