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.
शुभांगदोऽनुजस्तस्य महारत्नमयं दधत् । कवचं वपुषि श्रेष्ठं निजं प्रायाद्रणोत्सवे
His younger brother Śubhāṅgada, bearing a magnificent gem-studded armor upon his excellent body, went forth to the festival of battle.
राजभ्राता वीरसिंहः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रकोविदः । ययौ नृपाज्ञया तत्र शासनं भूमिपस्य हि
The king's brother Vīrasiṃha, skilled in all weapons and missiles, went there by the king's command, carrying out the ruler's order.
जामेयस्तस्य राज्ञोऽपि बलमित्र इति स्मृतः । सन्नद्धः कवची खड्गी जगाम नृपमंदिरम्
The king's nephew, known as Balamitra, fully armed with armor and sword, proceeded to the royal palace.
सेनानी रिपुवारोऽपि सेनां तां चतुरंगिणीम् । सज्जां विधाय भूपाय न्यवेदयदथो महान्
The commander, a mighty foe of enemies, prepared the fourfold army and then reported it, ready, to the king.
अथ राजा वीरमणिः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपूरितम् । मणिसृष्टोच्चचक्रोच्चमारोहत्स्यंदनोत्तमम्
Then King Vīramaṇi, surrounded by all weapons and missiles, ascended the excellent chariot, adorned with gems and towering wheels.
ततो वीरार्णवे शंखनिनादश्च समंततः । श्रूयते कातरान्वीरान्प्रेरयन्निव संगरे
Then, in the ocean of heroes, the sound of conches was heard all around, as if urging the fearful and the brave alike into battle.
भेर्यः समंततो जघ्नुः शुभवादकवादिताः । अनीकान्यत्र तस्यासन्संग्रामाय प्रतस्थुषः
All around, drums resounded, accompanied by auspicious trumpets and other instruments; the armies there prepared to advance for battle.
सर्वे कृतस्वस्त्ययनाः सर्वाभरणभूषिताः । सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रसंपूर्णा ययुः समरमण्डलम्
All, having performed rites for good fortune and adorned with every ornament, fully equipped with all weapons and missiles, entered the field of battle.
भेरीशंखनिनादेन पूरिताश्च नगा गुहाः । आकारितुं गतः किं नु तद्रवः स्वर्गसंस्थितान्
The sound of drums and conches filled the mountains and caves; did that tumult reach even those dwelling in heaven?
तस्मिन्कोलाहले वृत्ते राजा वीरमणिर्महान् । रणोत्साहेन संयुक्तो ययौ प्रधनमंडलम्
Amidst that uproar, the great king Vīramaṇi, filled with the zeal for battle, advanced into the main arena.