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.
आगत्य संस्थितस्तावद्रथपत्तिसमाकुलम् । समुद्र इव तत्स्थानात्प्लावितुं पुरुषानयात्
Arriving there, he stood amidst the throng of chariots and infantry, like the ocean poised to flood the men standing before him.
तदागतं बलं दृष्ट्वा रथिभिः शस्त्रकोविदैः । कोलाहलीकृतं सर्वमुवाच सुमतिं नृपः
Seeing that army arrive, with charioteers skilled in weapons making all tumultuous, the king addressed Sumati.
शत्रुघ्न उवाच। समागतो वीरमणिर्मम वाजिधरो बली । योद्धुं मां महता भूयः सैन्येन चतुरंगिणा
Śatrughna said: Vīramaṇi, mighty and mounted on his steed, has come to fight me with a great fourfold army.
कथं युद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं के योत्स्यंति बलोत्कटाः । तान्सर्वान्दिश मे वीरान्यथा स्याज्जय ईप्सितः
How should this battle be conducted, and who among the mighty warriors will fight? Tell me of all these heroes, so that the desired victory may be attained.
सुमतिरुवाच। स्वामिन्नसौ महाराजो महासैन्यपरीवृतः । समागतः स युद्धार्थं शिवभक्तिसमन्वितः
Sumati said: Lord, that great king has arrived, surrounded by a vast army, intent on battle and devoted to Śiva.
सांप्रतं युद्ध्यतां वीरः पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित् । अन्येपि नीलरत्नाद्या योद्धारो युद्धकोविदाः
Now, let Puṣkala, the valiant and master of supreme weapons, engage in battle; and others, such as Nīla and Ratna, skilled in warfare, as well.
शिवेन सह योद्धव्यं राज्ञा वा भवतानघ । द्वंद्वयुद्धेन जेतव्यो महाबलपराक्रमः
You must fight either with Śiva or the king, O sinless one; he of great strength and valor must be overcome in single combat.
अनेन विधिना राजञ्जयस्तेऽत्र भविष्यति । पश्चाद्यद्रोचते स्वामिंस्तत्कुरुष्व महामते
By this method, O king, you will achieve victory here; afterward, do as you see fit, O wise lord.
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नः परवीरहा । सुभटानादिदेशाथ युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः
Śeṣa said: Hearing these words, Śatrughna, destroyer of enemy heroes, resolved on battle, then commanded his brave warriors.
सर्वैः ससैन्यैर्युद्धार्थं राजभिः शस्त्रकोविदैः । यथा स्यान्मे जयः क्षिप्रं यतितव्यं तथा पुनः
With all the kings and their armies, skilled in weapons, strive again so that victory may quickly be mine.
जयार्थं राघवस्यैव श्रुत्वा ते रणकोविदाः । महोत्साहेन संयुक्ता ययुर्योद्धुं तु सैनिकैः
For the sake of Rāghava's victory, hearing this, those skilled in battle, filled with great enthusiasm, went forth to fight with their troops.
शेष उवाच। आह्वयंतं महासैन्यवारिधौ पुष्कलं नृपम् । समालक्ष्य कपींद्रोऽपि हनूमांस्तमधावत
Śeṣa said: Observing King Puṣkala, who was challenging in the ocean of the great army, Hanumān, the lord of monkeys, also rushed toward him.
लांगूलमुद्यम्य विशालदेहं । सरावमातत्य पयोदघोषम् । रणस्थितान्वीरवरान्कपींद्रो । जगाम तं वीरमणिं नृपेन्द्रम्
Raising his tail, his vast body extended, resounding like thunderclouds, the monkey king advanced toward King Vīramaṇi, where the foremost heroes stood in battle.
आयांतं तं हनूमंतं वीक्ष्य पुष्कल उद्भटः । विलोकयामासदृशा वैरिक्रोध सुशोणया
Seeing Hanumān approaching, Puṣkala, fierce in aspect, gazed at him with eyes reddened by the anger of enmity.
जगाद तं हनूमंतं पुष्कलः परमास्त्रवित् । मेघगंभीरया वाचा नादयन्रणमंडलम्
Puṣkala, master of supreme weapons, addressed Hanuman with a voice deep as thunder, resounding across the battlefield.
पुष्कल उवाच। कथं त्वं समरे योद्धुमागतोसि महाकपे । कियद्बलं स्वल्पमेतद्राज्ञो वीरमणेर्महत्
Puṣkala said: How have you come to fight in battle, O mighty monkey? The strength of this king Vīramaṇi is great, and yours is but small.
यत्र त्रिजगती सर्वा संमुखे समुपागता । तत्र त्वं लीलया योद्धुं यातुमिच्छसि वा न वा
Where all three worlds have assembled face to face, do you wish to fight here playfully, or not at all?
कोयं राजा वीरमणिः कियद्बलमथाल्पकम् । अत्रागमनमत्युग्रं तव वीर न भाव्यते
Who is this king Vīramaṇi, and how much strength does he possess, whether little or great? O hero, your arrival here is not to be taken lightly.
रघुनाथकृपापांगादहं निस्तीर्य दुस्तरम् । क्षणान्निर्यामि कीशेंद्र मा चित्तं कुरु संगरे
By the gracious glance of Raghunātha, I shall cross the impassable, and in a moment depart, O king of monkeys; do not let your mind be troubled in battle.
त्वया राक्षसपाथोधिस्तीर्णो रामकृपाव्रजात् । तथा रामं सुसंस्मृत्य निस्तरिष्यामि दुस्तरम्
By you, the ocean of demons was crossed through Rāma's grace; remembering Rāma well, I too shall cross the impassable.