पश्य ध्रुवं च प्रह्लादं बिभीषणमथाद्भुतम् । ये चान्ये रामभक्ता वै कदापि न पतंति ते
'Behold Dhruva, Prahlada, and the wondrous Vibhishana; and others who are devotees of Rama—they never fall at any time.'
ये रामनिंदका दुष्टास्तानि मे यमकिंकराः । ताडयिष्यंति लोहस्य मुद्गरैः पाशबन्धनैः
'Those wicked ones who revile Rama—my servants of Yama will strike them with iron clubs and bind them with fetters.'
ब्राह्मणत्वाद्देहदंडं न कुर्यां ते द्विजाधम । गच्छ गच्छ मदालोकात्ताडयिष्यामि चान्यथा
Because you are a Brahmin, I will not strike your body with a staff, O lowest of twice-born; go, go from my sight, or else I will beat you.
इत्थमुक्तवति श्रेष्ठे भूपे सुरथसंज्ञिते । सेवका बाहुना धृत्वा निष्कासयितुमुद्यताः
When the noble king named Suratha had spoken thus, his attendants seized him by the arm, preparing to throw him out.
तदा यमो निजं रूपं धृत्वा लोकैकवंदितम् । प्राह भूपं प्रतुष्टोऽस्मि याचस्व हरिसेवक
Then Yama, assuming his own revered form, honored by all the worlds, addressed the king: 'I am pleased with you, O servant of Hari; ask for a boon.'
मया प्रलोभितो वाग्भिर्बह्वीभिरपि सुव्रत । चलितोसि न रामस्य सेवायाः साधुसेवितः
'Though I tempted you with many persuasive words, O virtuous one, you were not swayed from the noble service of Rama.'
तदा प्रोवाच भूमीशो यमं दृष्ट्वा सुतोषितम् । उवाच यदि तुष्टोसि देहि मे वरमुत्तमम्
Then the lord of the earth, seeing Yama well pleased, spoke: 'If you are satisfied, grant me the highest boon.'
तावन्मम न वै मृत्युर्यावद्रामसमागमः । न भयं मे भवत्तो हि कदाचन हि धर्मराट्
'Let there be no death for me until I meet Rama; let there never be any fear from you, O King of Dharma.'
तदोवाच यमो भूपमिदं तव भविष्यति । सर्वं त्वदीप्सितं तथ्यं करिष्यति रघोःपतिः
Then Yama said to the king: 'So it shall be for you; all that you desire, the lord of Raghu will make true.'
इत्युक्त्वांतर्हितो धर्मो जगाम स्वपुरं प्रति । प्रशस्य तस्य चरितं हरिभक्तिपरात्मनः
Having spoken thus, Dharma vanished and went to his own city, praising the conduct of that king, whose heart was devoted to Hari.
स राजा धार्मिको रामसेवकः परया मुदा । गृहीत्वाश्वं प्रत्युवाच सेवकान्हरिसेवकान्
That righteous king, a servant of Rama, filled with great joy, took the horse and addressed his attendants, the servants of Hari.
मया गृहीतो वाहोऽसौ राघवस्य महीपतेः । सज्जी भवंतु सर्वत्र यूयं रणविशारदाः
'I have seized the steed of Raghava, the lord of kings; all of you, skilled in battle, be ready everywhere.'
इति प्रोक्तास्तु ते सर्वे भटा राज्ञो महाबलाः । सज्जीभूताः क्षणादेव सभायां जग्मुरुत्सुकाः
Thus addressed, all those mighty warriors of the king became ready at once and eagerly entered the assembly.
राज्ञो वीरा दशसुताश्चंपको मोहकस्तथा । रिपुंजयोऽतिदुर्वारः प्रतापीबलमोदकः
The king's heroes, his ten sons—Champaka, Mohaka, Ripunjaya, Atidurvara, Pratapi, Balamodaka,
हर्यक्षः सहदेवश्च भूरिदेवः सुतापनः । इति राज्ञो दश सुताः सज्जीभूता रणांगणे
Haryaksha, Sahadeva, Bhurideva, and Sutapana—these ten sons of the king became ready for the battlefield.
यातुमिच्छामकुर्वंस्ते महोत्साहसमन्विताः । राजापि स्वरथं चित्रं हेमशोभाविनिर्मितम्
They, filled with great enthusiasm, prepared to set out; and the king too summoned his splendid chariot, adorned with gold.
आह्वयामास सुजवैर्वाजिभिः समलंकृतम् । रणोत्साहेन संयुक्तः सर्वसैन्यपरीवृतः
He called for it to be yoked with excellent, well-ornamented horses, and, filled with the zeal for battle, surrounded himself with his entire army.
सभायां सेवकान्सर्वान्दिशन्नास्ते महीपतिः
In the assembly, the king gave orders to all his attendants.
शेष उवाच। अथ रामानुजो वेगात्समागत्य स्वसेवकान् । पप्रच्छ कुत्र वाहोऽसौ याज्ञिकः सुमनोहरः
Shesha said: Then Lakshmana, with speed, came and asked his attendants, 'Where is that sacrificial horse, so beautiful to behold?'
तदा ते वचनं प्रोचुः शत्रुघ्नं सुमहाबलाः । न जानीमो भटाः केचिद्धयं नीत्वा गताः पुरे
Then those mighty warriors replied to Shatrughna, 'We do not know, O hero; some soldiers took the horse and went into the city.'
वयं च धिक्कृताः सर्वे बलिभी राजसेवकैः । अत्र प्रमाणं भगवानिति कर्तव्य तां प्रति
We have all been disgraced by the powerful royal servants; in this matter, the Lord must be regarded as the authority.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तेषां शत्रुघ्नः कुपितो भृशम् । दशन्रोषात्स्वदशनाञ्जिह्वया लेलिहन्मुहुः
Hearing their words, Shatrughna became intensely angry, repeatedly licking his own teeth with his tongue out of fury.
उवाच वीरो मद्वाहं हृत्वा कुत्र गमिष्यसि । इदानीं पातये बाणैः पुरंजनसमन्वितम्
The hero spoke: 'Where will you go after taking my mount? Now I shall strike down the city, along with its inhabitants, with arrows.'
इत्युक्त्वा सुमतिं प्राह कस्येदं पुटभेदनम् । को वर्ततेऽस्याधिपतिर्यो मे वाहमजीहरत्
Having said this, he addressed Sumati: 'Whose is this breaking open of the enclosure? Who is the lord here, who has taken my mount?'
शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य भूपतेः कोपसंयुतम् । जगाद मंत्री सुगिरा स्फुटाक्षरसमन्वितम्
Shesha said: Hearing these words, filled with the king's anger, the minister replied in clear, well-articulated speech.
विद्धीदं कुंडलं नाम नगरं सुमनोहरम् । अस्मिन्वसति धर्मात्मा सुरथः क्षत्त्रियो बली
Know that this is the city called Kundala, exceedingly beautiful; here dwells Suratha, a powerful Kshatriya devoted to righteousness.
नित्यं धर्मपरो रामचरणद्वंद्वसेवकः । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा हनूमानिव सेवकः
Always devoted to dharma, serving the feet of Rama; with mind, action, and speech, he is a servant like Hanuman.
चरितान्यस्य शतशो वर्तंते धर्मकारिणः । महाबलपरीवारः सुरथः सर्वशोभनः
His righteous deeds are counted by the hundreds; Suratha, surrounded by great strength, is entirely splendid.
महद्युद्धं भवेदत्र हृतश्चेद्वाहसत्तमः । अनेके प्रपतिष्यंति वीरा रणविशारदाः
A great battle will occur here if the excellent mount is taken; many skilled warriors will fall in combat.
एवमुक्तं समाश्रुत्य शत्रुघ्नः सचिवं प्रति । उवाच पुनरप्येवं वचनं वदतां वरः
Hearing this, Shatrughna addressed the minister again, the best among speakers, and spoke further words.